While driving through the New Mexico Desert during a rainy night, college students Jim Halsey and his girlfriend Grace Andrews give a ride to a hitchhiker. While in their car, the stranger proves to be a psychopath threatening the young couple with a knife, but Jim successfully throws him out of the car. This sets off a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever.
| Tagline | Never pick up strangers. |
| Release Date: | Jan 19, 2007 |
| Genres: | Crime, Horror, Thriller |
| Production Company: | Intrepid Pictures, Platinum Dunes, Focus Features, Rogue Pictures |
| Production Countries: | United States of America, United Kingdom |
| Casts: | Sean Bean, Sophia Bush, Zachary Knighton, Neal McDonough, Kyle Davis, Danny Bolero, Jeffrey Hutchinson, Skip O'Brien, Travis Schuldt, Yara Martinez, Lauren Cohn |
| Status: | Released |
| Budget: | $10000000 |
| Revenue: | 25400000 |
**_Thrilling desert road flick improves upon the original_** This takes the template of the original movie from the mid-80s, augments the character of Nash by turning her into the protagonist’s girlfriend, Grace (Sophia Bush), makes the villain more believable (Sean Bean), effectively clarifies things without going overboard and has a way more satisfying climax. It also cuts out the fat for a welcome streamlined experience. It’s different enough so that you don’t feel like you’re watching the same movie. It runs 1h 24m and was shot in the summer of 2006 in the greater Sante Fe area of north-central New Mexico, as well as Austin, Texas (University of Texas and studio work). GRADE: B
