Riding The Bullet (2004)
Riding The Bullet (2004)
Have you ever had the experience where everyone says a film is bad, but you need to get it anyway to add to your collection, and then you watch it, and realize that it is actually a pretty great film, with a lot to love? I was at a local store in Portland Maine, when I came across a copy of Stephen King's Riding The Bullet, which was a film that I didn't actually know existed, but I loved the short story, and I needed it for my collection, so I picked it up. The guy at the store, told me that it really wasn't worth watching, and that is was really quite bad. When I watched it the first time, I wasn't sure what I thought about it really. Then I watched it again tonight, and I have to say that I actually really appreciate this film, and hope that people give it another chance.
Riding The Bullet tells the story of Alan Parker, who is going to school at the University Of Maine in Orono, on his birthday his girlfriend Jessica, breaks up with him, and he accidently cuts his wrists while high in the bathtub. His now ex-girlfriend gave him tickets to see John Lennon and Elastic Ohno Band in Montreal, but he receives a call that his mother Jean, had a stroke and is in the hospital in Lewiston Maine. So he gives the concert tickets to his friends Hector and Archie, and he decides to hitchhike from Orono to Lewiston. While hitchhiking he receives rides from some scary characters, gets chased by rednecks, and has to make the biggest choice of his life. Can Alan survive riding the Bullet?
Riding The Bullet was written, directed, and co-produced by Mick Garris, who has directed several Stephen King adaptations in the past. The film is based on Stephen King's 2000 short story of the same name. The film was distributed by Innovation Films in 2004, and had a very brief theatrical release, before going to home video and television release. The film film received mixed to mediocre reviews, and quickly just faded into obscurity. I do hope however that the film is discovered and becomes a cult film, because it is actually quite an interesting film, which I really think works. Riding The Bullet definitely pays homage to classic horror pulp comics and classic b-horror films.
Riding The Bullet stars Jonathan Jackson as Alan Parker (Jackson Warris plays 6 y/o Alan, Jeff Ballard plays 12 y/o Alan, and Peter LaCroix plays Mature Alan), David Arquette as George Staub, Barbara Hershey as Jean Parker, Erika Christensen as Jessica Hadley, Chris Gauthier plays Hector Passmore, Robin Nielsen plays Archie Howard, and Matt Frewer plays as Mr Clarkson. The film has a great cast, I was really impressed with David Arquette as George Staub, he plays the role really well. I also liked Jonathan Jackson as Alan, he brought a really sincere feel to the character.
Riding The Bullet was better than I expected, and it is disappointing that it disappeared so quickly into obscurity. I do feel like the film does feel a bit like a made for television film, which might have hurt it a bit. Though do keep in mind that Mick Garris is notable for his made for television film adaptations of Stephen King stories, so it does make sense that this would feel a bit like a made for television film. However, I also tend to love the made for television Stephen King films, so the fact that it has that feel to it doesn't take away from it being a great film. I like that the film pulls elements of classic horror pulp-comics, and classic b-horror films. I have always loved the short story Riding The Bullet, and I feel like the film does a great job at attempting to capture that tone.
This is Maine Move Mondays, so I want to talk about the Maine connections in the film, which was set in Maine. I do wish that it was actually filmed in Maine, rather than in Canada though, it was filmed in British Columbia and Calgary Canada. The film starts off set in Orono and Bangor, and then follows Alan's journey from Orono to Lewiston. Some of the roads and locations mentioned in the film don't exist, so tracing the actual path was a bit difficult, but I think I sussed out the route based on my knowledge of the area. Now, it would make sense if Alan just hitched down the Maine Turnpike (I-95), however it is obvious he is taking back roads, so the route he takes I think would be Hwy 2 from Orono to Bangor, then Hwy 202 towards Hampden. On the way to Hampden he and the "hippie" got in the accident. From there I think that he took Hwy 202 all the way to Augusta, where he took Hwy 201 to Gardiner, where I think he and the sick old man parted ways. I think he then State Route 126 from Gardiner to Lewiston, and in the rural section of that road is where he encounters the rednecks, and meets with George Straub, and around Sabattus is where he has to make the decision. The amusement park that is mentioned in the film doesn't exist, but I think that it is based on an amusement park in New Hampshire, possibly the Yankee Cannonball at Canobie Lake Park in Salem NH? Overall, I do feel like the film captures the tone of the book well, and that the filming locations feel enough like Maine to be realistic.
I actually really enjoyed Riding The Bullet, and if you haven't yet seen it, I definitely recommend checking it out. It isn't so much a must see film, but it definitely is worth watching, and if you come across a copy it is worth picking up. It is an odd film though, and sometimes the humorous tone can be a bit jarring and off putting, but I think that if you are feeling it, that the film is really an effective horror film, that encourages us to consider how much life actually matters. I think that this film helps me sometimes when I am depressed, because it reminds me how life is more precious that it sometimes feels like it is. Maybe as an artist who suffers from depression myself, I found myself identifying with Alan, and his story resonated with me. So maybe give Riding the Bullet another chance, or maybe a first if you haven't yet seen it.
Oh and one last little note. George Straub's car might look a bit familiar, it is a 1960 Plymouth Fury (few model years newer than the one in Christine), with a paint job that looks much like Christine, but much more of a muscle car.
Riding The Bullet tells the story of Alan Parker, who is going to school at the University Of Maine in Orono, on his birthday his girlfriend Jessica, breaks up with him, and he accidently cuts his wrists while high in the bathtub. His now ex-girlfriend gave him tickets to see John Lennon and Elastic Ohno Band in Montreal, but he receives a call that his mother Jean, had a stroke and is in the hospital in Lewiston Maine. So he gives the concert tickets to his friends Hector and Archie, and he decides to hitchhike from Orono to Lewiston. While hitchhiking he receives rides from some scary characters, gets chased by rednecks, and has to make the biggest choice of his life. Can Alan survive riding the Bullet?
Riding The Bullet was written, directed, and co-produced by Mick Garris, who has directed several Stephen King adaptations in the past. The film is based on Stephen King's 2000 short story of the same name. The film was distributed by Innovation Films in 2004, and had a very brief theatrical release, before going to home video and television release. The film film received mixed to mediocre reviews, and quickly just faded into obscurity. I do hope however that the film is discovered and becomes a cult film, because it is actually quite an interesting film, which I really think works. Riding The Bullet definitely pays homage to classic horror pulp comics and classic b-horror films.
Riding The Bullet stars Jonathan Jackson as Alan Parker (Jackson Warris plays 6 y/o Alan, Jeff Ballard plays 12 y/o Alan, and Peter LaCroix plays Mature Alan), David Arquette as George Staub, Barbara Hershey as Jean Parker, Erika Christensen as Jessica Hadley, Chris Gauthier plays Hector Passmore, Robin Nielsen plays Archie Howard, and Matt Frewer plays as Mr Clarkson. The film has a great cast, I was really impressed with David Arquette as George Staub, he plays the role really well. I also liked Jonathan Jackson as Alan, he brought a really sincere feel to the character.
Riding The Bullet was better than I expected, and it is disappointing that it disappeared so quickly into obscurity. I do feel like the film does feel a bit like a made for television film, which might have hurt it a bit. Though do keep in mind that Mick Garris is notable for his made for television film adaptations of Stephen King stories, so it does make sense that this would feel a bit like a made for television film. However, I also tend to love the made for television Stephen King films, so the fact that it has that feel to it doesn't take away from it being a great film. I like that the film pulls elements of classic horror pulp-comics, and classic b-horror films. I have always loved the short story Riding The Bullet, and I feel like the film does a great job at attempting to capture that tone.
This is Maine Move Mondays, so I want to talk about the Maine connections in the film, which was set in Maine. I do wish that it was actually filmed in Maine, rather than in Canada though, it was filmed in British Columbia and Calgary Canada. The film starts off set in Orono and Bangor, and then follows Alan's journey from Orono to Lewiston. Some of the roads and locations mentioned in the film don't exist, so tracing the actual path was a bit difficult, but I think I sussed out the route based on my knowledge of the area. Now, it would make sense if Alan just hitched down the Maine Turnpike (I-95), however it is obvious he is taking back roads, so the route he takes I think would be Hwy 2 from Orono to Bangor, then Hwy 202 towards Hampden. On the way to Hampden he and the "hippie" got in the accident. From there I think that he took Hwy 202 all the way to Augusta, where he took Hwy 201 to Gardiner, where I think he and the sick old man parted ways. I think he then State Route 126 from Gardiner to Lewiston, and in the rural section of that road is where he encounters the rednecks, and meets with George Straub, and around Sabattus is where he has to make the decision. The amusement park that is mentioned in the film doesn't exist, but I think that it is based on an amusement park in New Hampshire, possibly the Yankee Cannonball at Canobie Lake Park in Salem NH? Overall, I do feel like the film captures the tone of the book well, and that the filming locations feel enough like Maine to be realistic.
I actually really enjoyed Riding The Bullet, and if you haven't yet seen it, I definitely recommend checking it out. It isn't so much a must see film, but it definitely is worth watching, and if you come across a copy it is worth picking up. It is an odd film though, and sometimes the humorous tone can be a bit jarring and off putting, but I think that if you are feeling it, that the film is really an effective horror film, that encourages us to consider how much life actually matters. I think that this film helps me sometimes when I am depressed, because it reminds me how life is more precious that it sometimes feels like it is. Maybe as an artist who suffers from depression myself, I found myself identifying with Alan, and his story resonated with me. So maybe give Riding the Bullet another chance, or maybe a first if you haven't yet seen it.
Oh and one last little note. George Straub's car might look a bit familiar, it is a 1960 Plymouth Fury (few model years newer than the one in Christine), with a paint job that looks much like Christine, but much more of a muscle car.
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