The Hitchhiker (TV Series) Face to Face (1984) User Reviews

My introduction to the series

[Stevieboy666 · 7/10 · 26 May 2019]

I don't recall Deadly Nightmares ever being screened on British TV but three episodes did get a VHS release under the title Dead Even and Face to Face is the first story. And I have to say it was an impressive introduction, a revenge horror story with plenty of nudity thrown in to spice it up (the incredible Sybil Danning). I could see the ending coming a mile off, but an enjoyable short tale none the less that left me looking forward to the next episode.

One of the most memorable episode from a cheesy series.

[mm-39 · 7/10 · 12 August 2022]

The Hitchhiker was a Canadian made, H B O, 80's series which mixes nudity, sex, cheesy effects, and even cheesy stories. Well Face to Face has the usual nudity, sex, and eye candy but an actual story. People obsessed with beauty and sexy aka Hollywood 80's style are pushed to be perfection shallowness message resonated with me. Robert Vaughn plays a Hollywood egocentric Los Angeles plastic surgeon. Well the life style get over Robert's character head and Vaughn was headed for revenge. Driven by power, sex and beauty creates a dramatic memory of an ugly ending. I give Face to Face five stars.

Best episode of the series. Well done it's professional, sly, and wicked.

[blanbrn · 10/10 · 28 October 2007]

In my opinion this episode of "The Hitchhiker" titled "Face to Face" has to be the best of the entire series. For the way it's done it features a little bit of everything it's sexy, cunning, and done very wicked with a revenge twist. It stars movie and TV legend the classy and professional Robert Vaughn as Dr. Christopher Hamilton an arrogant and cocky ego driven Los Angeles, California plastic surgeon. Dr. Hamilton also instructs med students, yet he is most proud of his accomplishments of being a cool and feel good character of romancing beautiful ladies and doing plastic surgery on movie stars. Suddenly he meets a most unusual patient one day a woman named Nina Russell(Sonja Smits) who wants massive facial surgery, and she wants to be beautiful just like a Hollywood actress! Dr. Hamilton continues to be egocentric and after a night of passion and drug snorting with his sexy girlfriend Gloria(Sybil Danning) he botches the operation. Only later this mishap comes back to tear him apart in a very wicked and sly manner in the end when he has to face revenge face to face! Sybil Danning's performance was great she was very sexy in her love making scenes with Vaughn, oh that red bra was such a delight to see, Sybil was so hot! Robert Vaughn made the episode with his straight and direct acting he's one of the best legends around. The episode was crafted so well too blended with sex, smarts, sly and cunning feelings that all work to an expected revenge ending. Really the best episode of "The Hitchhiker" series due to the story and the performances of Danning and Vaughn.

Ahead of its time!

[HalleLoo · 9 April 2010]

This episode of The Hitchhiker entitled "Face To Face" is marvelous. Truly ahead of its time, deftly exploring transexuality, cosmetic surgery and hubris in one entertaining package. The central focus is the arrogant, talented plastic surgeon Dr. Hamilton, portrayed excellently by Robert Vaughn, renowned for his magic surgical hands and roving eye. In less than one half hour, Dr. Hamilton manages to bed his lovely medical student and a stunning movie queen, played by the awesome Sybil Danning. Dr. Hamilton, complete with a feature article in People Magazine, takes on the assignment of making more feminine a transgender makeup artist called Nina Russell, with Sonja Smits in the role. The evening prior Ms. Russell's intricate transformation via scalpel, Dr. Hamilton indulges in a sexy, boozy, drug-addled encounter with the film star. The night of debauchery leads to a massive "love hangover," resulting in the hot shot surgeon botching Nina Russell's procedure. Won't reveal too much more, but Nina Russell exacts her revenge playing on the doctor's biggest weakness! This episode tells an intriguing story using a breezy pace and sharp dialog. Robert Vaughn, Sonja Smits, and Sybil Danning's acting acuity gives the viewer a feel for what each character's station in life, and how that position can change with the flick of a scalpel! Kudos to one of the best episodes, if not the best, in the whole of The Hitchhiker series!

The perils of vanity and excess

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 14 October 2010]

Homely and desperate transsexual Nina Russell (a fine and touching performance by Sonja Smits) hires prominent, but sleazy and arrogant womanizing plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Hamilton (splendidly played to cocky and smarmy perfection by Robert Vaughn) to create a more alluring and attractive face for her. Problems ensue when Hamilton shows up at the surgery wasted from a long night of heavy partying and drugging. Director David Wickes relates the absorbing story at a constant quick pace and expertly orchestrates the pleasingly nasty revenge twist at the powerful conclusion, with the brutal punishment most certainly fitting the harsh crime Hamilton has committed. Robert J. Aurech's intelligent and insightful script delivers a potent and provocative central message about the dangers of pride and hedonistic excess. This episode further benefits from memorably sexy contributions by gorgeous 80's B-movie goddess Sybil Danning as glamorous film starlet Gloria and the adorable Michele Scarabelli as cute young intern Dr. Ensman. Arthur Corber brings a refreshing sense of warm and humanity to his role as earnest novice physician Dr. Gold. The make-up artists deserve special kudos for transforming Smits' lovely soft feminine features into a remarkably convincing plain and masculine countenance. Michel Rubini's jazzy score does the smooth'n'sultry trick. Best of all, we even get a sizable smattering of tasty bare distaff skin (Danning in particular looks smoking hot in lacy red underwear). And the final closing shot of Hamilton with a grotesquely mutilated face is genuinely chilling.

Robert Vaughn shines in what's probably the series best and most well-known episode.

[b_kite · 10/10 · 11 April 2022]

Dr. Christopher Hamilton (Robert Vaughn) is an arrogant, cocky, and sleazy big time Los Angeles plastic surgeon who is one day approached by a woman named Nina Russell (Sonja Smits). Russell is a transgender who wants to bring the woman in her out as others have failed. Hamilton agrees assuring her of a 90% success rate and that everything is possible. However, Hamilton being the ego driven sleazebag that he is indulges in a night of sex and drugs with movie star Gloria (Sybil Danning) the night before the operation. As figured, he's in no shape the next morning and botches the surgery with dire consequences. Probably without a doubt the most remembered and best episode of the series. It's mostly looked at as the one starring Sybil Danning even though she's not in it much nor plays much of a part in the story other than providing some top-notch T&A. Instead, most of the story is ran by Robert Vaughn who plays his sleazebag doctor so well you're just dying for him to get what's coming to him. The twist is great and perfectly wicked. Throw in a hint of gore and some sleazy sex and nudity and you've got the receipt for why I love this show.