The Hitcher (Full Screen Edition)
by Dave Meyers
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DVD details
Actor: Kyle Davis, Neal McDonough, Sean Bean, Sophia Bush, Zachary KnightonDirector: Dave Meyers
Brand: Ff
Producer: Alfred Haber
Producer: Alma Kuttruff
Producer: Andrew Form
Producer: Bradley Fuller
Writer: Eric Bernt
Writer: Eric Red
Writer: Jake Wade Wall
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 84 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-01
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Rogue Pictures
DVD Reviews of The Hitcher (Full Screen Edition)
DVD Review: Take a Ride on the Dark Side
Summary: 4 Stars
You remember the 1986 version of "The Hitcher," don't you? It pitted C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh against Rutger Hauer, who gave his John Ryder character a demented edge that was effectively unnerving. I remember watching it and admiring the way screenwriter Eric Red gave legitimacy to a completely unrealistic story; he exposed the dark side of human nature without being exploitive or trashy, something that can't be said for gory teen slasher films. I was pleased to discover that this new version works in much the same way, which is good considering all the ways it could have gone wrong. The Ryder character, now played by Sean Bean, could have been warped into a campy horror stereotype. He could have been a supernatural killing machine that can't be stopped, even after being shot, stabbed, burned, beaten, or any combination thereof.
This remake goes in the right direction by keeping him firmly planted in humanity. Despite his psychopathic tendencies, he's just as susceptible to death as anyone else. For both versions of the film, that forced me to redefine what a horror movie maniac can be. When watching the shameless exploits of Freddy Kruger, Michael Myers, or Jason Voorhees, it was intended for senseless murdering to be entertaining. They may be evil characters, but we don't want them to die; they're too much fun to watch. John Ryder, on the other hand, is a frightening, loathsome man who deserves no praise. He murders innocent people for no apparent reason. He destroys any possibility of hope or happiness. He ruins all that is decent in this world. He's a horror movie villain we do want dead.
For this remake, Zachary Knighton and Sophia Bush replace C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh. They play Jim Halsey and Grace Andrews, a college age couple on a Spring Break road trip. They cross paths with Ryder upon entering New Mexico, where the obligatory rainstorm sets the proper mood for the impending terror. Ryder inexplicably singles them out after they nearly run him over. They initially think they're doing something nice for a man who needs a lift. But then he begins asking some inappropriate questions, all of which lead up to him saying, "It makes me look trustworthy." "Aren't you?" Halsey timidly asks. "No," Ryder replies in a simple yet suspicious tone. All suspicions are confirmed when he crushes Halsey's cell phone and pulls a knife on Grace.
And so begins a downhill journey into a living nightmare--we all know it isn't enough to simply push the perpetrator out of the vehicle and speed away. They're now firmly planted in Ryder's mind, and he will stop at nothing to make them suffer. First, he makes sure they witness the murder of a devoutly religious family riding in their station wagon (special attention is given to a bumper sticker proclaiming Jesus' love and a blood spattered pamphlet asking who will get into Heaven). This is one of his many attempts to frame them; it isn't long before the police are involved, and for a significant period of time, they believe that Halsey and Grace are the evildoers. It gets worse after the arresting officers are murdered; the young couple escapes from the jailhouse armed with weapons, covered in dirt and blood, looking as guilty as sin.
I found Ryder's ability to twist every scenario fascinating. Just when Halsey and Grace think they've found a way to get help, Ryder turns the tide in his favor, which makes them seem responsible for everything that's happened. At the same time, his actions are also puzzling. I say this because Ryder is a well-crafted character stuck in an implausible story. I never believed for a second that any of this could actually happen in real life; Ryder's blatantly insane and sloppy methods would have caught up with him a long time ago. How interesting that I still enjoyed this movie.
Maybe one of the reasons is because of the final major sequence involving Halsey chained to a truck, his wrists attached to the engine, his ankles attached to the carriage. Ryder is in the driver's seat, his foot easing on the accelerator, signaling to Grace his intention of tearing poor Halsey in two. I loved the tension in this scene, made stronger by the fact that Grace is aiming a gun at Ryder's head. Will he do it or won't he? Will she do it or won't she? This scene was also the highlight of the 1986 film, which put Jennifer Jason Leigh in the same position. I obviously can't say how the events unfold in either version; let's just say that those of you who have seen the original will not be surprised by what the remake has to offer.
Yes, I did like this 2007 remake of "The Hitcher," despite an unrealistic plot. I think the most likely reason is because it's consistently terrifying, going from one startling sequence to the next seamlessly. It's also terrifying in terms of John Ryder; a silhouetted figure standing in the middle of the road is enough to make anyone afraid, especially when it's pouring rain. Thirdly, it's terrifying because it reinforces a guideline we were all taught; the film's tagline is, "Never pick up strangers," and common sense should tell you that this is very good advice.
Description of The Hitcher (Full Screen Edition)
TRAVELER'S WORST FEARS ARE REALIZED WHEN THE HITCHER, A MENACING KILLER IS RELENTLESS IN HIS PURSUIT TO TORTURE A YOUNG COUPLE ON THEIR CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP.Bestsellers in DVD
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