Watch Riding the Bullet

Riding the Bullet is a 2004 horror movie based on Stephen King's 2000 novella of the same name. The movie tells the story of Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson), a college student who is struggling with issues in his personal life, including a recent breakup with his girlfriend and his mother's failing health. On the same day that he receives news that his mother has had a stroke, he also learns that his mother's condition is grave and he should come home immediately. Alan, who is without transportation and can't afford the bus fare to get home, decides to hitchhike instead.

As he stands by the side of the road, he flashes back to a time when he was a child and his father died, and he had to confront his fear of death alone. During this flashback, we see that Alan was haunted by visions of a carnival ride called "The Bullet," which was so terrifying that he couldn't bring himself to ride it.

Eventually, a car pulls up, and the driver is an enigmatic figure named George Staub (David Arquette). At first, Alan is relieved to be given a ride, but as they travel further down the road, he begins to see that Staub is a deeply disturbed man. He's covered in scars, and he talks about death in a way that is both sinister and alluring. He tells Alan that he's taken other people on rides like this before, and that they all had a deep and meaningful experience.

As Alan tries to escape, he realizes that he's been taken on a terrifying journey that threatens to push him over the edge. Throughout the ride, Alan is forced to confront his own mortality and his fear of death, and he must grapple with the possibility that he will die before he has a chance to say goodbye to his mother.

The movie is not only about death, but it's also about the choices that we make and the consequences that follow. In the end, it's up to Alan to find the courage to face his fears, protect his mother and decide if he wants to live or die.

The movie explores the themes of mortality, fear, and redemption with a masterful touch. It's a psychological horror movie that keeps you guessing until the final moments, as you're never really sure what's happening to Alan and what's happening in his mind. The cinematography is beautiful, and the score helps create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression.

Jonathan Jackson delivers a fantastic performance as Alan, and David Arquette is terrifying as George Staub, bringing the perfect level of menace and fear to the character. Barbara Hershey also delivers a strong performance as Alan's mother, bringing a sense of warmth and love to a character who is struggling to stay alive.

Overall, Riding the Bullet is a tense and thrilling horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's a movie that is not only about fear, but it's also about coming to terms with the inevitability of death and the importance of living each day as if it were your last. If you're a fan of horror or Stephen King, this movie is definitely worth a watch.

Riding the Bullet is a 2004 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2 and a MetaScore of 37.