Riding the Bullet (2004)

I didn't think this flick was all that bad, but when I plug it into my list of Stephen King-based movies I've seen so far, it comes in dead last out of twenty one titles. An interesting point in retrospect is that you don't really know if the first two drivers who picked up Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) were apparitions or not, the way George Staub (David Arquette) turned out to be. In a bit of a nod to another Stephen King novel and movie, the car he was driving reminded me of Christine, so that was kind of cool. One of the story's gimmicks is having Alan's more mature alter-ego try to set him straight whenever he got into a sticky situation, but perhaps the scariest thing about the picture was the idea that a ticket to a Rock n' Roll Revival featuring John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band would only cost you eight bucks back in 1969. And if they were all going to go, Alan and his pals could chip in to buy a third ticket! Just goes to show that what doesn't sound like a lot today might have been a stretch for college students a half century ago.

I was quite impressed with this film. It obviously wasn't a big-budget or big-marketing film. On my TV, the guide rated this as one-star. But I liked the story, I'm a Stephen King nut, and I enjoy watching films that aren't very well known. Basically, I didn't expect much so I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent movie that had wonderful atmosphere, as well as a strong performance from David Arquette. The movie is a bit random, and yes, it is filled with some cheap, cliché' scares. Basically, this is an exciting horror film that also contains plenty of late 60's music and lifestyle. While it's not perfect, it offers some excellent atmosphere and deserves at least one watch. Definitely recommended for a good Halloween movie.

after reading some of these awful reviews, I have to conclude that you need to be in your 50s to enjoy this movie. well, I am, and I did! a lot.it was really beautifully shot, the story was interesting, and the acting was fine. Barbara Hershey has always been one of my favorite actresses, and I love the fact that her face is still HER face! the late '60s vibe was a little hit-or-miss (somebody above mentioned the plastic bong), but the music was perfect. if you like creepy movies that also make you think, you'll like this, although you might find the resolution a bit unsatisfying. if you just want to see zombies eat humans, you might not.

Every time I watch this adaptation of a Stephen King story about a college student hitchhiking home to see his ill mother, my mind starts to wander and I either doze off or change the channel and then switch back occasionally to see if anything has happened. Nothing ever does, and I have watched this flick several times. The only remotely interesting character is the delectable Erika Christensen as the young guy's gal pal, but she is outta there before the halfway mark. I wish she had been the one going home to see mom. Unfortunately, it is a bland male actor named Jonathan Jackson, and while he's OK, he does not exactly set the world on fire here. David Arquette wildly overacts as one of the people who picks up the hitchhiking Jackson. Cliff Robertson is another, and he is only marginally better than Arquette. Barbara Hershey is the mom. The title refers to an old wooden roller coaster, for those who don't know. Set back in time, there are some badly executed moments involving the period in question.