The Hitcher (2007)

A serial killer pins his crimes on two college students who gave him a ride.

Director:

Dave Meyers

Writers:

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

Stars:

Sean Bean, Sophia Bush, Zachary Knighton

2 wins & 2 nominations.

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)
Joe Self	...	Transport Guard #1 (as Joseph Michael Self)
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.

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Plot Keywords:

college student | psychopath | on the road | serial killer | police station | 

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Taglines:

Never pick up strangers.

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence, terror and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Spain] Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Carretera al infierno

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,234,000, 21 January 2007

Gross USA:

$16,472,961

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,399,945

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

Jessica Biel turned down the role of Grace Andrews while Britney Spears was considered for the same role.

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Goofs

In the beginning after Grace is picked up from college she starts to change in the car. She puts jeans on, then in the next shot is wearing shorts.

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Quotes

Grace Andrews: Hello?
Jim Halsey: You still asleep?
Grace Andrews: No, I'm not...
Jim Halsey: Get Up! I'm outside
Grace Andrews: What time is it?
Jim Halsey: It's time to go. Hurry up! You're late... Hey
Grace Andrews: Sorry I'm late
Jim Halsey: It's OK
Grace Andrews: Good morning
Jim Halsey: morning... nice PJs
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Following advice from the BBFC the distributor elected to make minor cuts to the film in order to achieve their desired '15' classification. The cuts removed sight of blood pumping from a man close-to death (too sadistic for a '15') and sight of blood spurting from a slit throat (too graphic for a '15'). The uncut version is available on DVD and HD DVD with an 18 classification.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Worst Horror Movie Remakes (2014)

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Soundtracks

Remember
Written and Performed by Al Parsons
Courtesy of Inter Music Library

User Reviews

see the original if you don't mind "older" movies (its not even that old)

I just saw this at a preview screening, and I liked it. I think that if you haven't seen the original and have something against older looking movies then you will definitely enjoy this. On the other hand, I prefer the original and felt like society's money would be better spent actually purchasing the original on DVD (its cheap) then seeing this. That would be a great F YOU to Hollywood! Another idea would be for movie theatres to show the original movie for a little less price and see what kind of results they get.

The movie itself is plenty intense, a decent amount of "boo scares", quick pace, attractive leads, decent acting (for the most part). Compared to the rest of the movies being released these days, I would say this is definitely above par. The only thing that I can't get over is how much alike the original it was.

There are a couple differences (the girlfriend, and a few others) that didn't really add anything to the movie at all, and even with those differences (which you would think could actually change the movie a lot) a lot of scenes are almost shot for shot the same. Acting wise, I think the main male actor faired a little better than c thomas howell... and i like sean bean a lot, but unfortunately he seemed to be doing a rutger haurer impression the whole time (dunno if that was his choice, or the filmmakers) Sophia Bush, as attractive as she is... did not impress me very much acting wise, but she wasn't horrible either.

All in all, I give this a 7, and I would personally give the original an 8.5. This one did some things better than the original, i think the original was more intense without feeling as "forced" as this one does (the level of brutality in movies feels pretty forced lately, you may understand what i mean, you may not) I honestly think that Hollywood could make some money if they would retouch some old movies and re-release them, and advertise them correctly.