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Three out of Five stars
Running time: 83 mins

Enjoyably trashy remake with a suitably creepy performance from Sean Bean, even if it's not quite on the level of Rutger Hauer's original.

What's it all about?
Whilst driving through New Mexico, college couple Jim and Grace (Zachary Knighton and Sophia Bush) wind up giving a lift to a mysterious hitchhiker who calls himself John Ryder (Sean Bean). Understandably, they are then more than a little freaked out when he turns out to be a homicidal maniac.

As if trying to kill them wasn't bad enough, Ryder frames Jim and Grace for a brutal slaying, which sends the trigger-happy cops of New Mexico after them in the mistaken belief that they're on a killing spree. Their only hope lies in Lieutenant Esteridge (J.R. Ewing lookalike Neal McDonough), who seems halfway capable of putting two and two together.

The Good
Sean Bean underplays the role to surprisingly disturbing effect. Rather than go for over the top histrionics, he says very little, leaving us guessing as to his motivation. Sophia Bush makes an extremely feisty female lead, and it doesn't hurt that she's drop-dead gorgeous and spends most of the film in skimpy tops and shorts, whilst Zachary Knighton actually looks like a real person rather than a central casting prettyboy.

If you've seen the trailer then you'll know that The Hitcher does indeed recreate the person chained to two different trucks scene from the original, although sadly the equally notorious fingers in a pie scene is nowhere to be found. Still, director Dave Meyers maintains a high level of suspense throughout, particularly during the jailhouse sequence.

The Great
Meyers also proves he can handle an action scene, notably during a deliriously bonkers scene in which Ryder destroys an entire cavalcade of cop cars and a helicopter armed with just a handgun.

Worth seeing?
The Hitcher might not be a patch on the original but it's still an enjoyably trashy thriller in its own right. Worth seeing.