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:

College Student | Hitchhiker | Police Station | Murder | Desert

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

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:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | USA:R (certificate #39360) | Australia:R | Germany:16 (cut) | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Portugal:M/18 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Malaysia:18PL | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:18 | UK:15 (re-rating, cut) | Norway:15 | Ireland:16 (re-rating on appeal) | Ireland:18 (original rating) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Brazil:16 | South Korea:18 | Germany:18 | Argentina:16 | Japan:R-15 | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | France:-16

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

Rutger Hauer who played the character of John Ryder in the original was offered a cameo, but declined for artistic reasons. Hauer has since said in the press that he has yet to watch the remake, and according to some of his friends he shouldn't bother.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ryder shoots Lieutenant Esteridge, he is holding the stainless steel Beretta model 92 that Grace took from Esteridge's holster. When Grace shoots Ryder, and he goes down, the gun is still the stainless 92, and the slide is closed. However, in the top down shot right after she shoots him, the gun laying beside him becomes a black Glock with the slide locked open.

Quotes:

John Ryder: I can't...

Movie Connections:

Features The Birds (1963)

Soundtrack:

Building Up to Feel So Good

Too violent remake full of action and grisly killings

This high-budget(produced by great producer-director Michael Bay) new version about the classic horror film deals about a young couple(a gorgeous Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton) driving on a rural highway along barren landscapes. They pick up a hitchhiker(with decent acting by Sean Bean in the role of Rutger Hauer)with diabolic plans, and he results out to be a psycho.The sadistic serial killer terrorizes them while killing several people and framing them for his murders. The hitcher sets up machinations and the cops(Neal McDonough)won't believe them.

In this big budgeted version is showed on screen overwhelming car crashes, breathtaking pursuits, kinetic action scenes, unflinching terror and extreme violence .The film is told with nimble edition and fast pace .There are some noisy scenes with gunfire and blowing up and also the pleasantly visual look is quite nice. Moving and thrilling musical score by Steve Jablonsky. Colorful and atmospheric cinematography by cameraman James Hawkinson. The tale is professionally directed by Dave Meyers, though with no originality. Not without interest, however is obvious needless thriller is justly a spectacular remake inferior to predecessor.The film transpires frenetic action, and sadism that will leave you emotionally and psychically affected.

The previous films were the original, the superior ¨Hitcher¨(1986)directed by Roger Harmon with C. Thomas Howell,Jeffrey DeMoon and Rutger Hauer, ¨The hitcher II: I've been waiting¨(2003)with Thomas Howell, Jake Busey and Kari Wuher( in similar role to Sophie Bush).