I never get tired of this movie. Rutger Hauer is somehow gorgeous, creepy, sexy, and even at times sympathetic - he's one of very few actors who can portray a villain with so many layers. Howell was great as Jim, the young, innocent "victim" of sorts. \ I interpret this movie differently than other reviewers. To me, John Ryder is a human, a serial killer whose whole life is killing, who is compelled to keep killing, but who at the same time is tired of killing and wants to die. As with most serial killers, he does not kill himself, and he does not turn himself in. He hunts for someone who will do it for me, as he says explicitly when he first meets Jim. "What do you want?" Jim asks. "I want you to stop me," Ryder replies. Later in the movie he says that he's tired. These are revealing statements. This is not a supernatural bogeyman, which is one of the best things about this movie - he's no boring, relentless, emotionless, one-dimensional robot like Jason, or Mike Myers. I think Ryder chooses Jim because Jim shows a spark in their first encounter - he doesn't allow Ryder to kill him; instead he shoves him out of the car, yelling "I don't want to die!" Rutger senses that Jim has hidden strength, and pushes him and practically TRAINS him until finally Jim reaches the point where he can do what is necessary and kill Ryder. Ryder is almost like Lancelot, tired of always winning, and searching for the worthy adversary who can beat him in a fight to the death.
I don't believe Jim kills Ryder out of revenge; he kills him because he knows by the end that he's the only one who can do it, partially because Ryder WANTS him to do it. After Jim shoved Ryder out of the car, Ryder had opportunity after opportunity to kill Jim, but he doesn't (although he kills pretty much everyone else). Even at the end he shoots at the car, moving slowly enough so that Jim can start the car and run him over. He needs Jim alive for another purpose, and in the end Jim achieves that purpose. I haven't encountered this theme in any other movie, and in that way it's unique, and fascinating.
I don't believe Jim kills Ryder out of revenge; he kills him because he knows by the end that he's the only one who can do it, partially because Ryder WANTS him to do it. After Jim shoved Ryder out of the car, Ryder had opportunity after opportunity to kill Jim, but he doesn't (although he kills pretty much everyone else). Even at the end he shoots at the car, moving slowly enough so that Jim can start the car and run him over. He needs Jim alive for another purpose, and in the end Jim achieves that purpose. I haven't encountered this theme in any other movie, and in that way it's unique, and fascinating.