The Hitchhiker (TV Series) Perfect Order (1987) User Reviews

The Hitchhiker--Perfect Order

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 4 April 2013]

While the art world in 80s New York, I have to confess, is alien to me, I thought it was compellingly presented in a unique—albeit slightly warped—way as it pertains to the obsessive quest of an artist determined to capture death in image before he himself dies due to an undisclosed illness that involves intense stomach pain. The artist is Simon Hopper (Steve Inwood, an actor all in, portraying his artist as someone so devoted to capturing immortality at the point of death, he is willing to kill to get it on film), and he is in pursuit of a model willing to go all the way for him. Virginia Madsen, early in her career, is a stunning bimbo with her sights set on the absolute fame that a real reputed artist can provide. She doesn't quite realize that Simon will give her fame, but it will require sacrificing her life in order to achieve what he so desires. Simon has an assistant named Nishi (James Shigeta), mute and mostly obedient to his boss' ambitions but interferes when it seems the results are on the verge of ending quite grim. Nishi seems to almost allow Madsen's Christina to fall total victim, only to step in to stop Simon in the nick of time. The near-drowning is certainly a nice little bit of suspense, but the laser attack (laser beams striking portraits in Simon's studio, intended for Christina, as she rightfully freaks out) at the end, with Simon literally trying to push Christina into a dangerous laser beam that would destroy her, is quite a corker. I think many will have interest in "Perfect Order" due to Madsen's involvement. She is pure sex on screen, an absolute eyeful of hot. She smolders. She's difficult and whiny and demanding as models that look like her often are, but when Simon wants that girl to pose she strikes like a champ. I think you can tell she had a full career ahead of her. This puts forth an effort to establish that many artists who produce product that garners praise and reverence can be a bit melodramatic and showy (Simon uses a machine gun during a "presentation" at a major gallery opening). Models are divas seeking to get noticed and become iconic thanks to another's vision, eye, and passion; also this is emphasized through Madsen. So the episode seems to accomplish what it sets out to do. Death is indeed, after all, eventually captured as the artist so yearned, only not in the exact way he had imagined or intended.

A very dark and disturbing episode

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 14 April 2011]

Ruthlessly ambitious young model Christina (an excellent performance by the gorgeous Virginia Madsen in her pre-fame days) hooks up with eccentric, but hugely popular and successful top fashion photographer Simon Hopper (superbly played with fierce intensity by Steven Inwood) in order to achieve the fame she desperately seeks. However, Christina isn't aware that the terminally ill Simon is planning to go a lot farther with her and his macabre death-obsessed work than she might be willing to go. Director Daniel Vigne does an expert job of creating and sustaining a compellingly edgy tone and adroitly milks the harrowing conclusion with Simon placing Christina in considerable real jeopardy for maximum nerve-jangling suspense. Marjorie David's bold and morbid script delivers a strong central message about the hefty spiritual and emotional price one has to pay in order to fulfill one's deepest desires. Madsen and Inwood do sterling work in the lead roles; they receive fine support from James Shigeta as Simon's loyal near mute assistant Nishi. Thomas Burstyn's sharp cinematography provides an appropriately garish stylized look. The shuddery score by Shuki Levy and Haim Saban hits the spine-tingling spot. Moreover, there's a generous smattering of tasty bare skin courtesy of the delectable Mrs. Madsen and a creepy voyeuristic bent which adds to the overall unsettling atmosphere. A truly spooky and perverse episode.

A skin fetish meets the desire for fashion photo fame!

[blanbrn · 6/10 · 14 August 2007]

This "Hitchhiker" episode titled "Perfect Order" clearly is one of the more strange and weird episodes it shows and explores the dark part of the human mind. It stars Virginia Madsen as a young and fashion fame starved model named Christina who wants to have big time success and be featured in many photos. Christina then meets up with a strange and successful photographer named Simon Hopper(Steve Inwood) only Simon is a different kind of photo guy he's obsessed with skin and flesh in a terrifying manner! It's strange and crazy this episode shows just how strange and dark that some people's mind and behavior can be, and you really see it when you explore their underworld. Good watchable episode here of the series it was especially nice to see Virgina Madsen this was well before she became a household name.