Don't spend much on a ride with "The Hitcher"

While not as innovative or gritty as the 1986 original, Dave Meyers' "The Hitcher" is one of the better horror film remakes in recent years. Written by Jake Wade Wall and Eric Bernt, and based on Eric Red's original screenplay, this version of "The Hitcher" adds a new character - our hero, Jim (Zachary Knighton), has a girlfriend, Grace (Sophia Bush).

The film begins with Jim and Grace driving to their spring break destination - and with Grace changing clothes in the car. Before the "cute college couple" can bore audiences to death, however, they are nearly killed by John Ryder (Sean Bean), a hitchhiker they reluctantly pick up in the rain. Since they are in the middle of nowhere and have lost their cell phones (of course) in the struggle with Ryder, their only option is to keep driving to seek assistance. This leads to a series of misadventures in which they discover Ryder is far from done with them and that small-town authorities are extremely suspicious of young strangers.

Meyers' keeps "The Hitcher" suspenseful. The film lacks depth and good acting, but succeeds at keeping the audience in suspense between sessions of death and torture. Knighton is a poor replacement for 1986's C. Thomas Howell and Bush's performance leaves a lot to be desired though her character's concept does not (she manages to approach, if not achieve, empowerment). Bean's performance pales in comparison to Rutger Hauer's in the original, but is respectable nonetheless.

The standout performance of the film goes to Neal McDonough as Lieutenant Esteridge, a hardworking but understanding police officer. Though the soundtrack is fairly predictable but effective, Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" playing loudly during a chase scene captures the urgency and brutality well, and other songs follow suit - capturing feeling and lacking originality, much like the film.

Rated R for profanity and graphic violence, "The Hitcher" is not for the squeamish. There is plenty of blood and gore, but at least no cheesy CGI special effects. "The Hitcher" is definitely not worth the cost of an evening showing at the movie theatre. However, especially for those who have not seen the original, it might be worth a matinee.

Originally published in The Chronicle in January 2007 as Jade Lee Culberson.