Product Description

A plastic surgeon (Albert Finney) gets suspicious when models he has operated on begin to die in mysterious ways. With the help of Cindy (Susan Dey), the next in line to be killed, he traces the deaths to a mysterious corporation which develops new technologies. Directed and written by Michael Crichton (Westworld, Coma).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25376 in DVD
• Brand: FINNEY,ALBERT
• Released on: 2007-01-30
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Features

• A plastic surgeon (Albert Finney) gets suspicious when models he has operated on begin to die in mysterious ways. With the help of Cindy (Susan Dey), the next in line to be killed, he traces the deaths to a mysterious corporation which develops new technologies. Directed and written by Michael Crichton (Westworld, Coma).Running Time: 93 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: 

Amazon.com
Someone is killing the supermodel clients of Hollywood plastic surgeon Albert Finney, and because this is a Michael Crichton movie, there has to be a pop-techno-scientific reason for it. Welcome to the daffy world of Looker, a 1981 film that manages to blend one or two interesting cultural ideas with a dismal storyline and a wonderfully cheesy early-Reagan-era look. The trail of murders leads to a corporation called Digital Matrix (Crichton always was prophetic about naming things), where head honcho James Coburn has launched a nonsensical plan involving TV commercials and mind control. Accused of the model deaths, Finney must track down the real culprit, aided by client Susan Dey (in her most appealing non-TV role). There's also a crazy "light gun" that causes victims to black out, a device that leads to some very strange shoot-outs. All of this might have been fun if the movie had any kind of suspense or distinctive characters. Albert Finney made this the same year he did Wolfen, after a hiatus from movie acting--a pair of eccentric choices, to be sure. Adding to the silliness is a truly wretched theme song, made the way they made 'em in the early '80s. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

why they were doing it - response to ophomike
this is in response to ophomike's great featured review, wherein he felt there was an unanswered question. namely, why were they killing all the models if they just wanted to use computer doubles to get perfect performances?

i haven't seen the film recently, but i think - if i recall correctly - the reason was explained by coburn at one point. besides the issue of perfect performances, building computer models also meant that they didn't have to deal with the flakiness and mood swings of real actresses and - most importantly - they could use their image forever without ever having to pay them. they would pay the models to submit to the series of full body scans, do some filming in private, and then the models would die. since no one knew of their process, they would keep using the model's image indefinitely wthout ever paying anyone any royalties because everyone would assume all of the "filmed" content had been done prior to the model's death.

one of my favorite parts was susan dey in the scanning sarcophagus with all the grid lines projected onto her as she was rotated. it was in this creepy, dark, deserted lab - but her agency had arranged it, so she didn't ask any questions. haha. oh, and also the scene where a model feels she's being stalked in her own apartment, even though she doesn't see anyone (too many diet pills?) and she then proceeds to work herself up into a fever pitch until she manages to tangle herself up in the drapes and fall over and out the window... now, i can accept the fact that she was at some point zapped with the black-out gun and then lost bodily control, but please - her little model body did not weigh enough to rip those draperie hooks off the rod. haha.

i love this movie and forgive me if my memory has clouded about the details. as a kid, this film left a lasting impression on me and i'm sure it played a part in my fascination (my whole age group's fascination, perhaps) with sinister technology and corporate conspiracy.

Unique
This is a rather unique film, though the commercials in the movie are rather cheesy, but funny which adds to the essence of the film. The music, acting and dialog are your typical 80's style. I guess that's why I love movies from the 1980's. I highly recommend this film who has a Sci-Fi interest. Albert Finney and Susan Dey do a great job.

Models & Media
I used to watch this film on cable ALL THE TIME growing up in the 80's. What I've found over the years is how close we are coming to the realities presented in this film. This film is becoming more and more ironic and brillant each year. It HAS to come out on DVD...PLEASE!