 SPOILER: In an appearance on  _"Late Night with David Letterman" (1982)_ (qv), Rutger Hauer (qv)  stated that the film originally ended with Jim Halsey shooting John  Ryder as Ryder lay prone on the highway. However, to avoid an X  rating, the filmmakers shot the ending that was ultimately used  (with Ryder getting to his feet, showing he is still a threat, and  giving Jim at least partial justification for shooting him).