Riding the Bullet (2004)

Director:

Mick Garris

Writers (WGA):

Stephen King (novel)
Mick Garris (screenplay)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The dead travel fast

Plot:

When a man finds out his mother is dying and tries to hitchike his way to the hospital, he is picked up by a stranger with a deadly secret.

Plot Keywords:

Mother | Hospital | Dilemma | Hitch Hiker | Suicide Attempt

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jonathan Jackson	...	Alan Parker
David Arquette	...	George Staub
Cliff Robertson	...	Farmer
Barbara Hershey	...	Jean Parker
Erika Christensen	...	Jessica Hadley
Barry W. Levy	...	Julian Parker (as Barry Levy)
Jackson Warris	...	Alan - Age 6
Jeffrey Ballard	...	Alan - Age 12 (as Jeff Ballard)
Peter LaCroix	...	Mature Alan
Chris Gauthier	...	Hector Passmore
Robin Nielsen	...	Archie Howard
Matt Frewer	...	Mr. Clarkson
Simon Webb	...	Grim Reaper
Keith Dallas	...	Orderly
Danielle Dunn-Morris	...	Mrs. Janey McCurdy

Also Known As:

Stephen King's Riding the Bullet (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language, drug use and some nudity.

Runtime:

USA:98 min | Argentina:98 min

Country:

USA | Germany | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)

Trivia:

Based on a story of the same name by Stephen King that was written exclusively for the internet.

Goofs:

Continuity: Alan hides in a refrigerator after being chased by some rednecks. The rednecks shoot at the refrigerator where he is hiding, but when he emerges from the refrigerator, there is no evidence of the door being shot at, either inside or out.

Quotes:

Jessica Hadley: Now, who loves you?
Alan Parker: My mom.
Jessica Hadley: Who else?
Alan Parker: Ehm, baby Jesus?
Jessica Hadley: Funny. Who else?
Alan Parker: You?
Jessica Hadley: I guess you've got prove of that, don't you?

Movie Connections:

References Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Soundtrack:

Time Of The Season

closest a movie has ever come to King's writing style

I have not read this story but I definitely will now!!! This movie separates itself from other King movies by making a character out of the protagonist's mind. As he tries to comprehend the outrageous events that befall him, you understand how he feels and hear his ideas and thoughts which, in a normal book to movie, would be skipped over. The story itself is about a very detached young college student, with a fascination for death, who finds himself hitchhiking alone to see his mortally ill mother. Unfortunately, due to a recent suicide attempt death seems to take an interest in him.

The plot is excellent and the movie possesses a style which is unlike any other. It uses fast cuts to past events and stories that the characters are talking about, which fits the plot. The movie doesn't rely on jump out of the shadows scare tactics, it is a true nail bitter. One particular scene where the character has no idea what is going on and is trying to figure out his course of action will have you on the edge of your seat! 9.5/10 unforgettable!