'The Pass' aka 'Highway Hitcher' is a fun little thriller if you like William Forsythe, simple low-budget stories and don't expect more than the necessary basics. There's adequate tension, a few twists & laughs. It also happens to have one of the worst trailers out there that ruins the movie and all it's moments if you can believe that.
Charles Duprey's (Forsythe) wife Shirley (Nancy Allen) leaves him. He enjoys gambling and the two were going to take a trip to Reno. A co-worker & friend Willie (Michael McKean) recommends he go anyway so he takes to the road and along the way picks up Hunter (James LeGros) who's car has broken down. In a short span of time, they bond but Hunter's deranged, weird side starts to show. He ditches him given an opportune moment, but the road ahead to Reno gets closed due to bad weather. Charlie spends the night at a roadside motel & tavern. Allowing this guy to catch up and the craziness resumes. The only thing left to question is was this random bad luck or is something deeper going on.
One reviewer calls Forsythe's character a loser. I disagree. He's a mild man with his life together but in a rut. He starts to find himself again, but has to go on this ride surrounded by death to get there. A young Jamie Kennedy appears as a state trooper and Elizabeth Pena plays a lady who provides equal parts sexuality & surprise.
I originally saw 'The Pass' on late night tv - the home to movies of lower quality - and in many ways this title fits right in. I don't blame anyone if they say this movie doesn't have a lot going on, but I enjoyed it's simplicity & atmosphere with Forsythe at the center of things. Seeing it again many years later didn't change that fact.