The Hitcher is a 2007 American road horror thriller film[3][4] starring Sean Bean, Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton. It is a remake of the 1986 film of the same name, which starred Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film was directed by Dave Meyers and produced by Michael Bay through his production company Platinum Dunes.
College students Jim Halsey and Grace Andrews are driving across New Mexico en route to meet friends for spring break. One night, they nearly hit a man standing in the middle of the road. Shaken, they decide not to stop and drive away. Later, at a gas station, Jim encounters the hitchhiker again, who introduces himself as John Ryder. Against Grace’s judgment, Jim reluctantly agrees to give him a ride.
While on the road, Ryder becomes hostile and threatens Grace with a knife, demanding Jim say "I want to die" to spare their lives. Jim manages to throw him from the vehicle after a sudden stop. Though Grace wants to return home, Jim convinces her to continue their trip.
The following day, they spot Ryder in a family's car and attempt to warn them but crash during the pursuit. They later find the family murdered, with only the father still barely alive. At a nearby diner, the father dies from his injuries. Jim and Grace are arrested on suspicion of the killings and taken to a police station. Ryder infiltrates the station and kills the officers, allowing the couple to escape. Despite being pursued, Ryder eliminates the remaining police units and a helicopter.
Jim and Grace take refuge in a motel, where Ryder attacks Grace. She escapes and later finds Jim chained between a truck and a trailer. Ryder forces Grace to watch as he kills Jim by driving the truck forward. He is subsequently captured.
The next morning, Lt. Esteridge reveals that Ryder’s true identity remains unknown and that the real John Ryder is missing. While being transferred, Ryder escapes custody, kills the police officers, and causes the transport vehicle to crash. Grace and Esteridge arrive moments later, and in the ensuing confrontation, Ryder kills Esteridge. Grace ultimately kills Ryder with a shotgun, executing him with a final shot to the head.
The Hitcher is a remake of the 1986 cult horror thriller of the same name, originally directed by Robert Harmon and starring Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The remake was developed by Michael Bay’s production company, Platinum Dunes, which had previously found commercial success with other horror remakes, including The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and The Amityville Horror (2005).[5]
Speaking about his interest in the project, producer Michael Bay remarked, “I loved it as a kid, and we can add some cool twists and turn it into a rocking film.”[6] Bay also suggested an updated approach to the story, including gender-flipping the central protagonist to feature a female lead in a more active role, diverging from the male-centric narrative of the original.[6][7][8][9]
Music video director Dave Meyers was chosen to helm the project, marking his feature film directorial debut.[10] In January 2006, Sean Bean was cast in the iconic role of John Ryder, originally portrayed by Rutger Hauer. Sophia Bush was cast as Grace Andrews, the new central character. In June 2006, Zachary Knighton joined the cast as Jim Halsey, taking on the role inspired by Howell’s character from the original.[11][12]
Principal photography began in June 2006 and primarily took place in and around New Mexico, capturing the film's desolate highway setting. The project was completed on a relatively modest budget, consistent with the production model of Platinum Dunes, which focused on genre filmmaking with controlled costs and efficient shooting schedules.[13]
The Hitcher held its special premiere screening on January 18, 2007, at the ArcLight Cinemas's Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The event was attended by much of the cast and crew.[14][15] The film was released theatrically in the United States on January 19, 2007.[16]
The film was released on DVD and HD DVD on May 1, 2007, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.[17] It was later released on Blu-ray in Australia on December 10, 2008.
The Hitcher debuted at #4 at the U.S. box office, earning $7.8 million during its opening weekend.[2] By its third week, the film had dropped to the 11th position and ultimately earned $16.3 million domestically.[18] It was pulled from most theaters by the fifth week and had completed its theatrical run by the ninth week.[2]
The film began its international release on March 1, 2007. As of June 30, 2009, The Hitcher had grossed a total of $25.4 million worldwide.[2]
As of June 2020, The Hitcher holds a 19% approval rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 108 reviews with an average rating of 3.84/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Sean Bean tries giving motive and emotion to The Hitcher, but director Dave Meyers is more interested in cheap shocks and gratuitous gore and torture."[19] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 28 out of 100, based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews."[20]
Empire awarded the film 2 stars, describing it as "totally inferior to the original."[21] The Guardian criticized the remake, stating: "Don't even slow down for this one, certainly don't tag along for the ride."[22] The New York Post referred to it as "the Jessica Simpson of psycho killer flicks – cheerfully in touch with its own brainlessness."[23]
James Berardinelli of ReelViews noted that the remake "abandons dread for instantaneous gory gratification," lacking the psychological depth of the original.[24] Fangoria's Michael Gingold criticized the film for being a "faded carbon copy" of its predecessor, lacking the style and subtext that made the original compelling.[25]
Despite the overall negative reception, some reviewers found redeeming qualities. AIPT Comics acknowledged that while the film has flaws, it delivers a fast-paced experience, stating: "While there are some flaws, mainly in the beginning, overall I had a lot of fun with this."[26]