Riding the Bullet

I am actually surprised to see this movie has gotten as high a rating as it has, as honestly it doesn't deserve it. Unless you are a die hard King fan this probably won't hold much appeal to you. The almost-horror premise involves a young man's trip to visit his mother who has been hospitalized from a stroke. Along the way he comes to terms with his past and current fears involving death in an almost 'Chistmas Carol' like way. The main flaw with the movie is that it may have a good theme about the value of life, but the 'fantasies' that the lead lives in lend a horror aspect that is mostly conveyed as trite and forced. The acting and effects were convincing enough for what it is (though much of the effects that are supposed to scare us involve menacing conversation), but overall it was too uneven to really deliver either a decent horror or a good coming to terms movie. A good choice for a Sunday night when nothing else is on.

A young hitchiking, Jonathan Jackson, leaves his College girlfriend, Erika Christiensen, and back home on his way to the hospital to visit his mummy, Barbara Hershey, who is dying by a sickness. Along the way he is picked up by a mysterious stranger, David Arquette .As while the rides continues, the young man finds out an awful secret and he has to take a creepy choice. The dead travel fast.

A surprising and twisted movie about an eerie choice that is given to a young man and it can mean life or death. Based on a story of the same title by Stephen King, containing some self-biographic elements which was exclusively written for the internet. It displays thills, chills, fantasy and horrifying events . An engaging and provoking story written/produced/directed by Mick Garris in which our starring has to contend weird appearances , while his doppleganger advises him fateful decision. Starts Jonathan Jackson who is assisted by a fine support cast, such as David Arquette, Barbara Hershey , Cris Gauthier, Matt Frewer, Barry Levy , Nicky Katt and the veteran Clift Robertson in one of his last films.

It packs a thriling and terrifying musical score by Nikolas Pike. As well as atmospheric and adequate cinematography by Robert New. The motion picture was professionally directed by Mick Garris, but being inferior than other Stephen King entries .Garris is an expert on terror movies writing, producing and directing several films and TV episodes , Television miniseries of this genre , such as : Sleepwalkers, Tales From the crypt, Quicksilver Highway, Masters of horro, Ravenswood, Bag of bones, Nightmare cinema, The Shining, Psycho IV, Witches of East End, Amazing stories, Freddy's nightmares, Desperation, Sleepwalkers, among others. Rating : Passable and acceptable 5.5/10. The picture will appeal to Stephen King aficionados and completists.

Okay, so most of Stephen King's books which have made the transition to film have been a little dubious to say the least. However, they always seem to be at least watchable. This one isn't.

It's about a student who learns his mother has had a stroke. Therefore he decides to hitchhike home to see her in hospital. Ignoring the fact that he doesn't seem to have any mode of transport or finances to take public transport, he sets off.

What follows is one random scene after the next. It's like the whole film is just his encounters along the way. Yes, some are well done and quite creepy or unsettling. However, there is simply no story here. He meets one weird character. He leaves them. Rinse and repeat.

Like I say, it has its creepy moments. Plus the acting is decent enough. There just isn't a story here at all. The young man starts at university. He ends up by his mother's side. Along the way are a few instances of weirdness. If you get bored (and I sure did), you can even skip chapters on the DVD. Each chapter is basically one weird/random encounter with a stranger. Therefore you can effectively skip the entire middle part of the film (while he's on the road) and still not miss anything and understand it completely.

Definitely one to avoid. Stick to Pet Sematery.

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Sunday, August 1st 2004 was the World Premiere of Stephen King's Riding The Bullet, which was hosted by DIRECTOR MICK GARRIS.

The story is set back in 1969. Alan (Jonathan Jackson) is a college student who learns that his mother (Barbara Hershey) has been hospitalized after a stroke. He must hitchhike across the state over the course of one night to be with her. Along the way he confronts his past, his future, his demons and fears - and a terrifying personification of death.

This film is brilliantly shot and the cast is fantastic!!! This film works so well because it has everything a TRUE Stephen King fan would be proud of. Excellent character development with thorough storyline added with a dash of fear and terror.

The movie is 100 min.

It always intrigues me when a film virtually disappears at the box office and a few months later it's premiering on television. I think to myself "can it really be that bad?" and I must watch it. Well, Riding the Bullet wasn't that bad, but it didn't deserve a theatrical release, not even a limited one. Mick Garris (The Stand) has been directed in television for so long that his big screen efforts feel like TV movies. Riding the Bullet felt like it was made for the small screen. I have a feeling that if the source material had been longer, Garris would have tried to pull a mini-series out of it. Garris has had success and failure with adapting Stephen King's work and I have to say that this falls somewhere in the middle. This is a case where the parts are better than the whole. I really enjoyed the scene where George Staub has a flashback to his own death that's done as if we're watching a film within the film. And then I hate all of the "gotcha" moments where what's happening on screen is just in the main character's head. I suppose it's an attempt to trick the audience but it happens way too much. Virtually every 7 or 8 minutes this happens and, honestly, it takes me out of the movie. I have to disagree with Tobe Hooper. This is not the best Stephen King movie. Jonathan Jackson, David Arquette, and Barbara Hershey are leading the cast, while Cliff Robertson, Nicky Katt, and Matt Frewer put in some cameos. Let's wish Mick better luck with Desperation.