The Hitcher

Hollywood’s endless string of no-account remakes gets another knot with this Michael Bay-produced lukewarm update of Robert Harmon’s 1986 original. A young couple (played by Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton), on their way to a spring break fiesta, are intimidated into picking up a stranded hitchhiker (Sean Bean) in the rain. Their surly passenger, John Ryder, quickly reveals his homicidal behavior and the lovers find themselves accused of his murders by police while still being hunted by the menacing madman they can’t escape. The writers attempt to spice up a litany of bloody set pieces with jolts of plot surprises that backfire under the film’s lack of suspense. "The Hitcher" is a pointless exercise in violence and bloodletting that approaches its subject without a hint of humor or redeeming social commentary.

Rated R. 84 mins. (C-) (Two Stars)