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Parents' Guide to

The Hitcher (2007)

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Very bloody remake of Rutger Hauer cult favorite.

Movie R 2007 90 minutes
The Hitcher (2007) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
September 11, 2012
age 17+

Thought it was well done!

I never knew about this movie until recently. I like Sophia Bush and I think she did a fantastic job in this. The Hitcher is basically about a couple who run into a mysterious man on the street while driving, not offering to give him a lift - they meet up with him at the corner store ahead where he innocently asks for a ride. Without seeming rude, the two offer him a lift and soon after realize that he is a killer. Lots of action, gore and some jumps. I found it fairly entertaining with a decent storyline, not really scary though, more like an action thriller. Strong violence & language. Would recommend 17 and up.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
callofduty5
callofduty5 Adult
December 28, 2011
age 16+

Violent..

This movie involves two kids Jim and Grace who go for a spring break in New Mexico, but get stalked by an infamous hitcher John Ryder who stalks them and later tries to kill them. There's some sex and language. The violence is quiet bloody but the "truck" scene is somewhat gory and disturbing. Suitable for kids aged 16+

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A college student named Jim (Zachary Knighton) embarks on a road trip with his girlfriend Grace (Sophia Bush). Within minutes, they meet a dark stranger who calls himself John Ryder (Sean Bean). Ryder is implacable and unknowable. Ryder's first assault, in Jim and Grace's car after they agree to give Ryder a lift -- even though she knows they shouldn't -- leads Jim to believe that he can best the monster physically. But Grace gets the feeling that this won't be the case, so they spend the rest of the movie trying to get away from him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Bloody and pretty much relentless, the 2007 version of THE HITCHER offers little in the way of innovation. Some of the set pieces from the 1986 original remain intact: Jim and Grace see Ryder again on the road, in a station wagon ("Honk if You Love Jesus") with pretty blond kids and pleasant parents. And they have to deal with local cops who think they're responsible for Ryder's grisly murders (owing to Ryder's not-so-ingenious trail of bodies and clues).

As the kids do their best to elude this monster -- who, once again, is capable of anything, even apparently throwing a truck at them from the sky -- erstwhile music video director Dave Meyers' signature cleverness is visible mostly in some not-so-original stylistic details. These include bloody close-ups of spiders, a bloodied copy of the children's book Will I Go to Heaven?, hectic handheld camerawork, The Birds playing on a motel TV, and some obvious musical cues (David Soul's "classic" "Don't Give Up on Us Babe" plays on the car radio, while Nine Inch Nails' more graphic lyrics accompany a brutal sequence). As Grace becomes a version of Ryder, her metamorphosis does recall that of the original film's Jim. But here it's too often turned into hot-chick-with-a-gun clichés: She wears a miniskirt and boots, and she absolutely knows how to handle firearms, from handguns to shotguns. She's also a little too convincing when she asserts at last, "I don't feel anything." If Grace hasn't been here before, viewers most certainly have.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the characters change over the course of the movie -- particularly Grace. How does she become hardened by her experience with John Ryder? Families who've seen the original can also compare the two. What's different about this version? How do the changes reflect how media standards and culture has changed over the past 20 years? Why do you think they decided to remake this movie in the first place?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: January 19, 2007
  • On DVD or streaming: May 1, 2007
  • Cast: Sean Bean , Sophia Bush , Zachary Knighton
  • Director: Dave Meyers
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: Rogue Pictures
  • Genre: Horror
  • Run time: 90 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence, terror and language.
  • Last updated: June 19, 2023

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