Riding the Bullet (film)
| Riding the Bullet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Mick Garris |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Mick Garris |
| Based on |
Riding the Bullet by Stephen King |
| Starring | |
| Distributed by | Innovation Film |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $134,711 (United States)[1] |
Riding the Bullet is a 2004 horror film, directed by Mick Garris. It is an adaptation of Stephen King's 2000 novella of the same name. The movie, which received a limited theatrical release, was not successful in theaters; it earned a domestic gross of $134,711.[2]
Plot
Set in 1969, Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) is a young artist, studying at the University of Maine. He becomes obsessed with death, and believing he is losing his girlfriend, Jessica (Christensen), he tries to commit suicide on his birthday. His friends surprise him, and he cuts himself, which sends him to the hospital. He eventually recovers and decides to accompany them to a John Lennon concert.
Before leaving he receives news that his only living relative, his mother, Jean (Hershey), is in the hospital because of a stroke and is near death. Alan decides to hitchhike to reach the hospital before she dies. On his way there, he has multiple strange encounters with the living and dead. The film ends when Alan, now in his 40's, tells the audience that his mother died of a heart attack while watching television. He married his girlfriend Jessica, but it only lasted four years.
Alan never made it as an artist, but he does go to the theme park every summer in memory of his mother. While walking from the park, a person who looks like his friend George Staub offers him a ride, but he refuses. He tells him to "take your button and get outta here".
Cast
- Jonathan Jackson – Alan Parker
- David Arquette – George Staub
- Cliff Robertson – Farmer
- Barbara Hershey – Jean Parker
- Erika Christensen – Jessica Hadley
- Barry W. Levy – Julian Parker
- Nicky Katt – Ferris
- Jackson Warris – Six-Year-Old Alan
- Jeff Ballard – 12-Year-Old Alan
- Peter LaCroix – Mature Alan
- Chris Gauthier – Hector Passmore
- Robin Nielsen – Archie Howard
- Matt Frewer – Mr. Clarkson
- Simon Webb – Grim Reaper
- Keith Dallas – Orderly
- Danielle Dunn-Morris – Mrs. Janey McCurdy
King casting connections
Ben Cotton played Hank in The Dead Zone (2002) TV series.
Sandra-Jessica Couturier played a Jury Member in The Dead Zone (2002) TV series.
Matt Frewer played Trashcan Man in The Stand (1994 TV miniseries), Dr. Charles George in Quicksilver Highway (1997 film), Ralph Carver in Desperation (2006 TV movie), and Sid Noonan in Bag of Bones (2011 TV miniseries).
Cynthia Garris played Laurie in Sleepwalkers (1992 film), Susan Stern in The Stand (1994 TV miniseries), 217 Woman in The Shining (1997 TV miniseries), and Ellen George in Quicksilver Highway (1997 film).
Robin Nielson played Billy Goatee in The Dead Zone (2002 TV series).
David Purvis played the Drunk in Kingdom Hospital (2004 TV series).
Trivia
- In the forest road scene, approximately 45 minutes into the film, the "wolf" coming out of the bushes is not actually a wolf. The coloration is wrong, and the animal is too small to be a full bred wolf. When the animal calms down, it's easy to see it is a German Shepherd.
- The car used in the movie is a red and white 1960 Plymouth Fury, the same generation as the 1958 Plymouth Fury used for Christine (1983), another movie based on a Stephen King story.
See also
References
External links
- Riding the Bullet at the Internet Movie Database
- Riding the Bullet at AllMovie
- Riding the Bullet at Rotten Tomatoes
- Riding the Bullet at Box Office Mojo
