DIRECTOR: DAVE MEYERS
WRITERS: ERIC RED (also screenwriter for the 1986 original film), JAKE WADE WALL, AND ERIC BERNT
STARRING: SEAN BEAN, SOPHIA BUSH, AND ZACHARY KNIGHTON
It was love at first sight with this movie. Initially I thought, finally the lead female role is played by a hot brunette. Then I met "the hitcher" and was terrified and fascinated all at the same time.
I recently watched the original, and must admit it was good considering its age. As big of a horror fan as I am, I still find great difficulty in watching older flicks because it's hard to place yourself in the character's shoes and get the shit scared out of you. Our generation is spoiled with special effects and modernized technologies to call for help with.
What I really like about this movie are the characters. Ironically, I feel like horror movies contain the least amount of character development Nobody watches a scary film to learn about the characters' past because we want to see blood. RIGHT NOW. Although we don't know much about the main characters in this movie, their actions and mannerisms tell us their story. I still want to stress how rare this is for this genre.
Sean Bean plays "the hitcher" and he is fucking scary. Personally, I think he makes the movie. His relentless violence, yet calmness are brilliant and makes me route for him in the end! Pretty much, I feel like his character naturally portrays a real life serial killer.
Sophia Bush plays the lead female role who finds herself running in circles in this sociopath's game of control. I actually like her and not just because she's beautiful. I think she's tough without being obnoxious and butched out, and she's easily likable as a result of her common sense. Her boyfriend on the other hand, is a pussy. I actually think his character is intentionally portrayed as the soft spoken, unaggressive type because that's the vulnerability "the hitcher" sniffed out when he targeted them. It is humorous when the boyfriend is called out on this.
There is one scene in this film that stretches my eyes open wide while my arm hair stands up like an ovation. Near the end there is a car chase scene where the police are trying to capture the boyfriend and girlfriend. Just when it seems like the couple is about to surrender to the shooting police cars and helicopter, that adrenaline rushing Nine Inch Nails song "Closer to God" starts playing. "The Hitcher" catches up to the commotion and takes every last fucking siren out. I am not a sucker for action scenes, but I can't help but to admire how bad ass this killer is!
