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Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton star in the horrifying new thriller 'The Hitcher.' |
With big-budget vet Michael Bay as a producer, this film about a road trip gone terribly wrong has a look and feel that initially pulls you in.
Young leads Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton are likable as Grace and Jim, a young college couple heading off on spring break, blasting along a desert highway in an old muscle car with the windows rolled down.
Likewise, the initial run-in this young couple has with "the hitcher," played with ultimate disdain by Sean Bean, comes off as scary and all too possible.
At this point, this film is on track, making you wonder what's going to come of this obviously fateful meeting.
But all too soon, as is
Instead of interesting action, development of these characters and a back story about who this strange hitcher, John Ryder, really is, this film just starts soaking people in blood.
If it's not the nice family the young vacationers had seen go by in a station wagon on the highway--with the scary Ryder riding with kiddies in the back--it's a whole station of police that this bad guy murders with ease.
None of it makes much sense or happens in a way that adds anything to the strange tale.
Indeed, the police in this film are portrayed as so stupid and incompetent that four or five of them in squad cars can't stop this one bad guy in a stolen Firebird. Not even with a helicopter overhead helping them.
But the hitcher, Ryder, keeps coming, following Jim and Grace until there's finally a resolution with each of them.
Yes, you've seen the previews. Young Jim ends up chained between two vehicles, with Ryder in the front one with his foot on the gas.
There's little suspense
Bush (on TV's "One Tree Hill") does her best as Grace, as does Neal McDonough as a state police investigator.
But what'll leave most filmgoers scratching their heads is what the whole wild ride was about.
Sadly, many will decide
Rated R for strong bloody violence, terror and language. [RF, RA, M]
