Looker 1981

A young blonde model, Lisa Convey, features in a commercial for Ravish — a perfume that promises to realize women’s innermost desires, narrated by the voice of John Erwin. Seeking perfection, she approaches Dr. Larry Roberts, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon known for his meticulous nature. Initially perplexed by her exceedingly precise demands, Dr. Roberts ultimately agrees to perform the surgery, swayed by his business partner, Dr. Jim Belfield, who warns that if he declines, a less skilled surgeon will take over. The surgery goes off without a hitch, and soon, Lisa returns to her lavish life with her dog Teddy.

As she prepares for a romantic evening with her boyfriend Bob, unsettling occurrences unfold. After a series of persistent doorbell rings, Lisa opens the door expecting to see Bob, but her confusion deepens when she finds no one there. Teddy’s frantic barking at seemingly nothing troubles her, and soon she is startled by a closing door, which traps her dog in a wardrobe. Just as she realizes that an attaché containing a gun is missing, her anxiety intensifies, leading her to notice a shadowy figure lurking behind the curtains. Dazed and overwhelmed, she follows the figure only to accidentally fall from her balcony. The spectral man takes a pen and a small brown button from her apartment as he makes his escape.

Enter Cindy Fairmont, another aspiring model, eager to attain her own version of perfection. She frequently chews gum and flirts with Dr. Roberts, who remains disinterested in her advances. Cindy requests minor cosmetic alterations, so subtle that they’d be nearly invisible, but the mounting pressures culminate in catastrophe when models connected to the same advertisement begin to die under mysterious circumstances.

Detective Lieutenant Masters questions Dr. Roberts about Cindy and the physically stunning Lisa, both of whom appeared to have taken their lives. Dr. Roberts reflects on how attractive women sometimes believe that achieving physical perfection will alleviate their troubles, yet they often find their lives unchanged post-operation. As Masters investigates further, he notes that Dr. Roberts’ jacket contains the same brown buttons discovered at Lisa’s home.

A new model arrives in distress, convinced that perfect models are being exterminated. Panicking at the realization that danger is imminent, she rushes off, accidentally leaving behind a handbag filled with secretive numbers. When Dr. Roberts attempts to contact Lieutenant Masters about the escalating violence, he arrives at the model’s apartment just in time to witness her tragic plunge from the balcony. Disturbed by a figure resembling a mustached man — Tim Rossovich — lurking nearby, Robert’s accounts are dismissed by Masters as paranoia.

Meanwhile, on a lingerie shoot, Cindy preps herself for a charity gala with Dr. Roberts, awkwardly navigating their burgeoning connection amidst the chaos. At the event, they encounter John Reston, the director of a prominent cosmetics company, and Jennifer Long, who warns Dr. Roberts of the hidden truths lurking within the advertising world.

Despite their blossoming romance, complications arise as a series of bizarre events unfold while shooting commercials. Dr. Roberts learns about a controversial company, Digital Matrix, that employs advanced technology to evaluate the allure of models through a scoring system. The models, aiming for perfect presentations, find themselves dangerously ensnared in a web of manipulative marketing strategies, leaving them not only physically altered but entirely at the mercy of industry machinations.

As the situation spirals, Cindy experiences growing panic about her safety. The narrative escalates into a gripping race against time, revealing the extent of corporate corruption and the dark underbelly of the beauty industry. Ultimately, as Larry uncovers a sinister plan involving a gadget that hypnotizes its victims, he must confront a series of trials to rescue Cindy from the clutches of danger.

In a climactic showdown, the deceptive nature of beauty and the horrors of commodification clash, leading to a confrontation where lives hang in the balance. In the end, after a tumultuous battle against unseen foes, Larry and Cindy emerge united, leaving the chaos of the world behind as they walk away together, holding hands, oozing hope for a future beyond the superficial.