The Hitcher (2007)

While driving through the New Mexico Desert during a rainy night, the college students Jim Halsey and his girlfriend Grace Andrews give a ride to the hitchhiker John Ryder. While in their ... See full summary »

Director:

Dave Meyers

Writers:

Eric Red (screenplay), Jake Wade Wall (screenplay),

Stars:

Sean Bean, Sophia Bush, Zachary Knighton

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Bean	...	John Ryder
Sophia Bush	...	Grace Andrews
Zachary Knighton	...	Jim Halsey
Neal McDonough	...	Lt. Esteridge
Kyle Davis	...	Buford's Store Clerk
Skip O'Brien	...	Sheriff Harlan Bremmer Sr.
Travis Schuldt	...	Deputy Harlan Bremmer Jr.
Danny Bolero	...	Officer Edwards
Jeffrey Hutchinson	...	Young Father
Yara Martinez	...	Beth
Lauren Cohn	...	Marlene
Michael J. Fisher	...	Transport Guard #2 (as Mike Fisher)
Joseph Michael Self	...	Transport Guard #1
Brad Robinson	...	Correctional Officer
Kurt Grossi	...	Officer Franklin

Storyline

While driving through the New Mexico Desert during a rainy night, the college students Jim Halsey and his girlfriend Grace Andrews give a ride to the hitchhiker John Ryder. While in their car, the stranger proves to be a psychopath threatening the young couple with a knife, but Jim succeeds to throw him out of the car on the road. On the next morning, the young couple sees John in another car with a family, and while trying to advise the driver that the man is dangerous, they have an accident. While walking on the road, they find the whole family stabbed in the car, and John sees that the driver is still alive. He drives to a restaurant seeking for help, but the police blame Jim and Grace to the murder and send them to the police station. However, John kills the policemen and pursues the couple, playing a tragic and violent mouse and cat game with Grace and Jim.

---

Plot Keywords:

college student | police station | on the road | murder | psychopath | 

---

Taglines:

Never pick up strangers.

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence, terror and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [es] Official site [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Autostoper

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£217,973 (UK) (1 June 2007)

Gross:

£438,178 (UK) (8 June 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, Intrepid Pictures, Platinum Dunes

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sean Bean spent little time with his young co-stars so as to distance their relationship and make himself seem more unknown and menacing. He believed this would drive the chemistry in a more realistic fashion.

---

Goofs

When the car does the 360 spin, you can quickly spot the cameras and crew tied to the roof of the car whilst it's spinning.

---

Quotes

John Ryder: [points to Grace] She's a good looking girl... how long have you been fucking her?
Jim Halsey: What?
John Ryder: It's a simple question.
Jim Halsey: [Jim see's John's wedding ring] How long have you been fucking your wife?
John Ryder: I'm not married.
Jim Halsey: Then what's with the ring?
John Ryder: Makes strangers think I'm trustworthy.
Jim Halsey: Are you?
John Ryder: No...
[John destroys Jim's cell phone]

---

Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: The Unborn (2011)

---

Soundtracks

"Building Up to Feel So Good"
Written by Cameron Flener (credit only) and Jacob Bunton
Performed by The Velcro Pygmies

User Reviews

what the hell have they done?

I last saw this movie and thought it was a bit cheesy, the last time i saw the original "the hitcher" i was about 8 years old. so i took my original copy, dusted it off and watched it to compare the two. i can't believe that Rutger Hauer was replaced by somebody like Sean Bean anyway and the whole story line of the remake really was boring. maybe if they replaced Rutger by somebody like Micheal Madsen maybe then it would have been a believable actor in it's character. all and all i think this movie should be considered "never made" like "the matrix reloaded" and "revolutions" so if i could recommend anything to anybody... just buy the original it's superior to the remake. this movie was bound to fail and mess up a classic.