Horror remake presents thrilling special effects
“The Hitcher” drifts from original screenplay, but offers surprising elements
By Anna Young, contributing writer
Posted on January 22, 2007

It seems that a recent trend in the filmmaking industry is to rejuvenate outdated or often forgotten movie masterpieces from years past. “The Hitcher,” released last Friday, is no exception to this Hollywood fad.

“The Hitcher,” a remake of the 1986 thriller that incidentally has the same title, owes its re-creation to the debut of director Dave Meyers, but the script can be attributed to the original screenplay writers.

The cast of “The Hitcher” boasts an expansive array of theatrical experience. Sean Bean, who played the arduous Boromir in the widely acclaimed trilogy, “Lord of the Rings,” takes the daunting role of John Ryder, the hitcher. Sophia Bush, who is most recognizeable from TV’s “One Tree Hill,” plays college student Grace Andrews. Virginia native Zachary Knighton plays Grace’s boyfriend, Jim Halsey.

Andews and Halsey and Jim cruise through New Mexico in a pristine blue 1972 Oldsmobile 442, destined for Lake Javaview, Ariz., for Spring Break. Their plans are disturbingly interrupted by a frightening encounter with Ryder on one rainy night. With four short and simple words, Ryder seems to transform from an anonymous hitchhiker to an unstoppable stalker as he treks across New Mexico, two steps behind the panic-stricken Andews and Halsey. The couple seeks the security of law enforcement, but thanks to Ryder’s skillful schemes and desperate misunderstandings, Andews and Halsey are framed for almost all of the hitcher’s dreadful actions. Thus ensues a cat-and-mouse chase where at times there seems to be no exit from Midwestern maze for Andews and Halsey. Police Lt. Esteridge finally calls for some “eyes in the sky” in a captivating climax that leads to a sudden ending.

As is typical with most film remakes, “The Hitcher” slightly strays from the original storyline, but the effects and filming techniques are partially improved. Consider a hybrid of the films “The Hills Have Eyes” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” when anticipating the plot of “The Hitcher.”

“The Hitcher” isn’t as gore-saturated as some other recent horror blockbusters, but it definitely contains more surprise elements than most thriller flicks. If you’re looking for mastermind murder techniques like the infamous Jigsaw of the “Saw” trilogy, you’ll be disappointed. Ryder uses primitive and brutish killing tactics, and for the most part, they aren’t directly displayed on the big screen. At times the acting seems superficial, but for the most part the characters are adequately portrayed.

Some points of the plot are predictable, but it doesn’t lack a healthy dose of unexpected events. The volume of suspense is mild, but most of the effects are masterfully executed. This film is comprised of a couple elaborate car chases and some much-anticipated blood-infested scenes. There is a complimentary mixture of peaceful scenes of Midwestern landscapes and chilling close-ups with grim lighting that compliment the brooding atmospheres in most other scenes.

If you’re a horror flick buff, this film can be somewhat disappointing due to its lack of extraordinary elements that would make this movie genuinely scary.