Illustration : Unknown

Scream Show
 

Richard Rothstein, Ivan Nagy, Ivan Nagy | Canada, USA, France | 1984, 1983, 1983

Three more epsiodes from the cable-TV mystery/thriller anthology series The Hitchhiker. Again the book-end sequences with Page Fletcher have been totally deleted, giving the close of each episode a vicarious jarring effect.  

Video Date (Richard Rothstein, 1984) [Season 2, ep. 6]

Serial womaniser and lowly electronics salesman Jack Rhodes (Gregg Henry), picks up women via a video dating service for one-night stands in a plush high-rise building (assisted by a concierge friend who lends him apartment keys). One evening he receives a video tape from the alluring Barbara (Shannon Tweed), inviting him out for a date and the promise of a night of passion; Jack however, gets much more than he bargained for.

Split Decision (Ivan Nagy, 1983) [Season 1, episode 3]

Failing sales representive Jake McElhaney (Jackson Davies) is given a week to secure a sale or face dismissal from his employer, Potter Realty. He thinks lady luck is finally on his side when he goes to view a property owned by two eccentric, glamorous, identical twin sisters: Priscilla and Frances Packard (Audrey and Judy Landers). Since childhood, the two girls have had an unusual way of sharing things — as Jake finds out when he starts philandering with both sisters.

Shattered Vows (Ivan Nagy, 1983) [Season 1, episode 1]

Rich, middle-aged Jackie Winslow (Alexandra Stewart) and her much younger beau, Jeff Boder (Bruce Greenwood) decide to tie the knot; as a present from his grandmother, Jeff is given an old miniature wedding figurine. However, jealous step-daughter Pamela (Aleisa Shirley) wants Jeff (not to mention Jackie's trust fund) all for herself and succeeds in seducing him. At the wedding reception they discover that the figurine has the same characteristics as a voodoo doll…

 

 

 

When viewed retrospectively, the sensational illustration ‘cracking’ open the sleeve — superbly conceived in the style of British artist Les Edwards — is a major spoiler. It was re-used for the small box sell-through version, although the whole package was re-branded as Dead Time Stories Volume 2. 

Split Decision, the second of the three stories, was actually only awarded a ‘15’ by the BBFC. However, collected together with the other two ‘18’ rated episodes, the whole tape displays a concurrent ‘18’ certificate

Featured trailers :

Mind Killer (1987); Dir: Michael Krueger

Devils of Monza, The (1987); Dir: Luciano Odorisio

Eleventh Commandment, The (1986); Dir: Michael Anderson

 

aka : Dead Time Stories Volume 2

cast : Gregg Henry, Shannon Tweed, Pauline Little, Michael Rudder, Linda Smith  | Jackson Davies, Audrey Landers, Judy Landers, Marlane O'Brien | Bruce Greenwood, Alexandra Stewart, Aleisa Shirley, Tom Heaton, Anna Teghararian, Anthony Holland, Doreen Ramus, Alana Shields, Alan Simmonds