Riding the Bullet (2004)
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29% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
37% of users liked it
(7,701 ratings)
A young man who has flirted with death is forced to come to terms with mortality in this tale of terror based on a story by Stephen King. Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) is a college student studying art at the University of Maine in 1969. Cursed with an over-active imagination, Alan constantly… More A young man who has flirted with death is forced to come to terms with mortality in this tale of terror based on a story by Stephen King. Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) is a college student studying art at the University of Maine in 1969. Cursed with an over-active imagination, Alan constantly obsesses over the worst outcome of any situation, and when he begins to suspect his girlfriend, Jessica (Erika Christensen), is thinking of leaving him, it drives him to the brink of suicide. Shortly after this brush with death, Alan receives word that his mother, Jean (Barbara Hershey), has suffered a severe stroke and may not pull through. Alan grabs his jacket and hits the road, hoping to hitchhike the one hundred miles to the hospital. As it happens, Alan is trying to catch a ride on Halloween night, and after he's picked up by one George Staub (David Arquette), he realizes that he's riding the highway with a creature not of this Earth. Riding the Bullet was directed by Mick Garris, marking the fourth time the filmmaker has brought one of King's stories to the cinema or television screen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mick Garris
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Horror
- In Theaters
- Oct 15, 2004 Wide
- Studio
- LionsGate Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Justin Chang, Variety
A ponderous, incoherent horror mishmash that turns King's short story into utter nonsense.
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Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
The movie is so glum and flat-footed there's no reason to care.
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Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
Both the anticipation factor and writer-director Mick Garris' slick adaptation fail to live up to the old hype.
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Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
A better name for the film would be Taking the Bullet, because that's what sitting through this dopey, pretentious mess feels like.
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Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News
It's a navel-gazing meditation on death smothered under excess and ham-handed direction, better suited for late-night cable.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jonathan Jackson
as Alan
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David Arquette
as George Staub
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Cliff Robertson
as Farmer
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Barbara Hershey
as Jean Parker
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Erika Christensen
as Jessica Hadley
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Matt Frewer
as Mr. Clarkson
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Nicky Katt
as Ferris
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Howard Kaylan
as Apple Man
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Barry W. Levy
as Julian Parker
- Chris Gauthier
- Jackson Warris
- Jeff Ballard
- Peter LaCroix
- Robin Nielsen
- Simon Webb

