SYFY TZ Marathon - The Hitch-Hiker

 I do think a lot of the appeal of "The Hitch-Hiker" besides Inger Stevens knockout performance, one of the very best The Twilight Zone ever produced--and probably one I'll continue to drumbeat until I breathe my last breath--and Strong's intrusive "little scarecrow man" always there to remind her of what she cannot avoid, always right there "needing a ride" is the "road movie" aspect of it. Supposedly from Pennsylvania when Stevens' Nan "blows out a tire" and the mechanic that helps her keeps reiterating how she's lucky she isn't dead until Arizona, with plenty of places in between, the entire episode is moving from one place to another. I think I've always been attracted to the road movie. Taking the trip, the long trip, an adventure. This, for Nan, isn't quite what she had in mind...certainly not the destination.

I usually love to watch "The Hitch-Hiker" on New Year's Day in the early afternoon. Although, I perfectly understand why this is a reliable prime time slot TZ episode--I definitely can see why SYFY wouldn't bury it in the early morning at 2 or 3 AM--"The Hitch-Hiker" has been a SYFY afternoon mainstay alongside the likes of "Hundred Yards Over the Rim" in many a marathon.