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      Riding the Bullet

      R Released Oct 15, 2004 1 hr. 38 min. Horror Mystery & Thriller List
      23% 22 Reviews Tomatometer 34% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Ever since his father passed away, art student Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) has been hypnotized by thoughts of death. After his girlfriend, Jessica (Erika Christensen), breaks up with him, Alan attempts suicide but is rescued by his friends. The next day, he learns that his mother (Barbara Hershey) has just had a serious stroke, and he sets out to hitchhike to her hospital. Along the way, he meets a series of strange people, including sinister George Staub (David Arquette), who may be Satan. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Nov 01 Buy Now

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      Riding the Bullet

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      Riding the Bullet

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      Critics Consensus

      Stephen King adaptation veteran director Mick Garris has lofty storytelling goals which ultimately flail and undercut the story's terror.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Howard H Watching footage of "the bullet" on YouTube for an equal runtime would be more riveting and plot driven than this film. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/22/23 Full Review Miss Malibu N I watched this movie 5 times and still have absolutely no clue what on earth this is about. Apparently nobody else could figure it out either. I love the sound track though. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/15/23 Full Review Milan M Huge Stephen king fan. This definitely belongs to the psychological thriller lovers. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/06/23 Full Review steve d A convoluted mess with nothing interesting going on. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review adam b The story was intriguing but that damn director doesn't know how to direct a film. Lost me on all fronts and honestly, one of the worst Stephen King adaptations I've even seen (although that's not saying much considering I still somewhat enjoyed some of this film) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I am a huge fan of Stephan kings short stories and novels and this particular short story which was published in the book "everything's eventual" was one of my all time favorites. The movie made changes that didn't make the story better but worse. Like having the main character suicidal (not in the book) and having the ghost George stubs manner of death being that he was in a car accident. Instead, in the book, he says he rode the bullet and was decapitated while riding it. This makes way more sense and connects with the billboard he sees. They didn't need to add a girlfriend either. The original story was excellent on it's now without these silly changes. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (22) Critics Reviews
      Justin Chang Variety A ponderous, incoherent horror mishmash that turns King's short story into utter nonsense. Oct 21, 2004 Full Review Kevin Crust Los Angeles Times The movie is so glum and flat-footed there's no reason to care. Rated: 1.5/5 Oct 20, 2004 Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen Hollywood Reporter Both the anticipation factor and writer-director Mick Garris' slick adaptation fail to live up to the old hype. Oct 19, 2004 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed A very sub-par series of clunky ideas about mortality, none of which amount to a decent horror film. Nov 1, 2014 Full Review Sean Clark Dread Central Riding the Bullet is a film that will likely appeal to more non-horror fans... Rated: 2.5/5 Jan 23, 2006 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Ever since his father passed away, art student Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) has been hypnotized by thoughts of death. After his girlfriend, Jessica (Erika Christensen), breaks up with him, Alan attempts suicide but is rescued by his friends. The next day, he learns that his mother (Barbara Hershey) has just had a serious stroke, and he sets out to hitchhike to her hospital. Along the way, he meets a series of strange people, including sinister George Staub (David Arquette), who may be Satan.
      Director
      Mick Garris
      Executive Producer
      Stephen King, Frank Hübner, Jan Fantl, Jeff Ivers, Jörg Westerkamp
      Screenwriter
      Stephen King, Mick Garris
      Distributor
      Innovation Film Group
      Production Co
      Motion Picture Corporation of America, ApolloMedia
      Rating
      R (Drug Use|Disturbing Images|Language|Some Nudity|Violence)
      Genre
      Horror, Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Oct 15, 2004, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jun 7, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $101.1K
      Sound Mix
      Surround
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