The Hitcher (2007)

Director:

Dave Meyers

Writers (WGA):

Eric Red (screenplay) and
Jake Wade Wall (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 January 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Never pick up strangers.

Plot:

While driving through the New Mexico Desert during a rainy night, the college students Jim Halsey and...

Plot Keywords:

Villain Played By Lead Actor | Dream Sequence | Throat Slashing | Throat Slashed | Dismemberment

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 29

4:30 AM

HBO

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence, terror and language.

Runtime:

84 min | Croatia:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Australia:R | Germany:16 (cut) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | UK:18 | Malaysia:18PL | Norway:15 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Argentina:16 | Ireland:18 (original rating) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Brazil:16 | USA:R (certificate #39360) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Portugal:M/18 | Ireland:16 (re-rating on appeal) | UK:15 (re-rating, cut) | Germany:18 | South Korea:18 | Japan:R-15 | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

The movies that Grace are watching in the hotel near the end are North by Northwest (1959) and The Birds (1963).

Goofs:

Continuity: The tracks of blood on the station wagon father's chin change between shots when Jim sits in the back with him as he dies.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Grace Andrews: You should be out there looking for him right now! HE IS GONNA KILL MORE PEOPLE!

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Soundtrack:

Move Along

A wild ride

So it's no masterpiece. I wasn't expecting one. As a good ol' blood-and-guts horror/thriller, it delivers. I will say is that it's not for the faint of heart, though. This is definitely a gruesome flick, even for today's standards. I was pretty close to the edge of my seat throughout 80 % of the film--so I'd say the film did its job. And watching Sophia Bush (from "John Tucker Must Die") run around in short skirts and tops made the film even more fun to watch. I do have a few mild criticisms. There are some clichéd scenes, like the main characters getting arrested and being taken to one of those precincts that only exist in movies. Only about three people are on staff, making it convenient for the killer to stroll inside, murder the officers in cold blood, and track his prey. Sean Bean plays the villain/title character. Sean's a significantly talented character actor, who most people probably recognize by face, rather than by name. This could've been a much more juicy role for him, but he's not given much to do. His performance consists of sneering and delivering sadistic one-liners in a monotone. I blame this more on his character being underwritten, rather than the actor himself. He has proved in movies like "Goldeneye" that he's capable of playing villains with much more depth. On the other hand, character actor Neal McDonough is given a pretty juicy role as the somewhat sympathetic sheriff. "The Hitcher" is not a film that will go down in history, but if you want to kill an hour and 30 minutes with a kick-a** popcorn flick, it's definitely worth watching.