THE HITCHER

"I want to die"

Driving through New Mexico on their way to Spring Break in California, Jim (Knighton) and Grace (Bush) drive passed a hitcher on the side of the road during a storm. Stopping at a gas station further down the road, the pair meets up with John Ryder (Bean), the man they didn't give a lift to. Feeling guilty Jim offers him a ride but as the trio set off to the next town, the stranger turns on them threatening their lives. Barely escaping with their lives, the couple think they are safe but John Ryder is not going to let them get away.

Hollywood fascination with remaking cult Horror movies continues but will you want to pick up the new version of 'The Hitcher'?

After remaking 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and 'The Amityville Horror', producer Michael Bay turns his attention to the 1986 cult horror classic 'The Hitcher'. Starring C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Lee and Rutger Hauer as John Ryder, the original struck a cord with viewer and made you never even think about picking up a stranger ever again. The 2007 remake takes exactly the same approach but replaces the psychological drama of the original with action horror and Jim and Grace try to escape the relentless pursuit of the obsessed killer.

The new version of the movie ups the stunt quota tenfold. The film is a pursuit movie and this means that there are cars chases and crashes a plenty and the good news is that director Dave Meyers and his creative team have decided to use real life stunts and not rely on computer generated effects. This makes for some truly spectacular crashes sequences that ooze reality and will have you on the edge of your seat.

Fantastic crashes and chase sequences do not a movie make, as you really need to bring some story into the action and this is were the remake of 'The Hitcher' falls down. The John Ryder character is a fascinating creation. He is a man obsessed with death but you never really get to discover his true motivation for killing. Instead you have to believe that he is a mindless psychopath, driven by just wanting to capture the two victims that got away from him. Whilst the lack of background information or real development of the character may add a little illusiveness to John Ryder but modern cinema audiences now expect a little more to their killers.

Stepping into Rutger Hauer's shoes was never going to be easy for any actor but Sean Bean actually manages to become a convincing John Ryder. The British actor has played many different types of roles and established himself as both hero and villain material but this role allows him to be his most vicious. The character is relentless in his pursuit of the couple and Sean Bean seems to revel in the gore and brutality of the role. Zachary Knighton gets his first chance at the big time and he grasps it with both hands. As Jim Halsey, he plays a slightly weaker and more modern male lead, one that doesn't take the lead and is just as scared as anyone would be, when been chased by a manic killer. The star of the film however is Sophia Bush. This her chance to push for the big time, moving away from TV and smaller supporting roles and getting the leading characters her talent and beauty deserve. She is far more talented than many of the other young stars Hollywood is obsessed with at the moment and this film should gain her some attention.

The remake of 'The Hitcher' doesn't quite have the same impact as the original and is never going to be classed as a classic of the genre but it is one of the better attempts from Hollywood's current obsession in visiting the past for ideas. With some brilliant car crashes and a villain that will send chills down your spine, 'The Hitcher' will take you on an eventful ride.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Deleted Scenes (22.55 mins)
Entitled 'Introducing John Ryder', 'Ryder on a rampage', 'A waking nightmare', 'Asleep with the enemy', 'Cold and scared', 'Dangerous curves', 'Rest in pieces' and 'End of the road', these deleted or alternative scenes suffer from the lack of a commentary track or introduction to reveal why they were removed or changed.

Dead End (13.09 mins)
Director Dave Meyers, producer Andy Form, special effects supervisors Jake Garber and Mike McCarty and stars Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton, reveal how the scene between the trucks was created for the remake.

Road Kill: The Ultimate Car Crash (10.00 mins)
Director Dave Meyers, producers Andy Form and Brad Fuller, stunt drivers Corey Eubanks and Russell Solberg, director of photography James Hawkinson, stunt coordinator Kurt Bryant and stars Sean Bean, Neal McDonough, Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton take you behind the scenes of car crashes and stunts of 'The Hitcher'.

Fuel your Fear: The Making of the Hitcher (10.55 mins)
Director Dave Meyers, producers Andy Form and Brad Fuller, director of photography James Hawkinson and stars Sean Bean, Neal McDonough, Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton talk about remaking 'The Hitcher', working with Sean Bean, the director and the differences between this and the original.

Chronicles of a Killer (4.36 mins)
Watch the full versions of the news footage from KMRD2, which was shown on TVs during the movie.

Trailers
Previews of 'Hot Fuzz' and 'Alpha Dog'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'The Hitcher' is good. The featurettes cover most aspects of the film's development but the lack of a commentary track is a little disappointing. Fans of the movie will be pleased however with this DVD.

DVD

The Hitcher (1986)

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2007