Handsome and ambitious young man Jeff Boder (a solid and likable performance by Bruce Greenwood) marries the wealthy and much older Jackie Winslow (attractive fortysomethingish cougar supreme Alexandra Stewart) for her considerable fortune. Jeff falls under the enticing and corrupting spell of Jackie's bitchy and cynical stepdaughter Pamela (nicely essayed with lip-smacking sultry and wicked relish by lovely brunette Aleisa Shirley). Jeff uses a mysterious statuette given to him by his grandmother to bump off Jackie so he and Pamela can inherit all her money. However, things don't ultimately work out so well in the long run. Director Ivan Nagy, working from a tight and absorbing script by Lewis Chesler, relates the involving story at a steady pace, ably milks the cool supernatural elements for maximum low-grade thrills, and really pulls out all the stops at the gloriously gruesome and outrageous conclusion. This episode firmly establishes the basic formula for the entire series during its mid 80s pay cable TV years: simple, often seamy, but engrossing plots that explore the darker aspects of human nature (in this case greed and the ruthless impulses it triggers in people), a little nasty gore, a handy helping of tasty gratuitous female nudity (the deliciously lissome Shirley in particular looks smoking hot sans clothes), a dab of sizzling soft-core sex, and a grim surprise ending in which the protagonists get their just brutal desserts for their evil actions. Francois Protat's slick cinematography gives the episode a pleasing polished look. A good start for this show.
3 Reviews
Nifty pilot episode for the enjoyably trashy cable TV anthology series
Woodyanders4 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Bruce Greenwood stars in the debut of "The Hitchhiker".
b_kite27 September 2018
Jeff Boder (a young Bruce Greenwood) is an ambitious young man who is about to marry a much older wealthy woman Jackie Winslow (Alexandra Stewart). Boder however finds himself attracted to her much younger stepdaughter Pamela (Aleisa Shirley). After being given a mysterious statuette by his grandmother (Anna Teghararian), which seems to have almost voodoo like powers in what ever happens to the statuette happens to both Jeff and Jackie. The pair of Jeff and Pamela come up with an idea to murder Jackie with the means of the statuette to gain Jackie's huge wealth and finally be with each other, the plan works, but, fate has a way of settling debts.
The first episode of the notorious HBO anthology series witch was directed by Ivan Nagy, who also directed the other two season one episodes this one isn't bad, but, its a strange little tale none the less. The young Greenwood does a fine job in his early role and the young Aleisa Shirley is beautiful to look at. Watching this one for the first time however you would think that Shirley would just kill both of them off to have the money all to herself, but, it strangely doesn't happen that way, and the overall final twist is insane and hard to forget. All together a nice way to start the series. Plus the episode I watched contained the Page Fletcher opening wraparounds.
The first episode of the notorious HBO anthology series witch was directed by Ivan Nagy, who also directed the other two season one episodes this one isn't bad, but, its a strange little tale none the less. The young Greenwood does a fine job in his early role and the young Aleisa Shirley is beautiful to look at. Watching this one for the first time however you would think that Shirley would just kill both of them off to have the money all to herself, but, it strangely doesn't happen that way, and the overall final twist is insane and hard to forget. All together a nice way to start the series. Plus the episode I watched contained the Page Fletcher opening wraparounds.
Sexy strange episode that twist with revenge.
blanbrn24 October 2019
This was the very first episode of the "HBO" "The Hitchhiker" series and the episode "Shattered Vows" was a clear knockout it's a tale of greed and lust as it shows what comes around goes around. Jeff(Bruce Greenwood) marries a much older trophy type lady named Jackie and she's wealthy only her hot and sexy stepdaughter Pamela has her eyes set on her money and you guessed it Jeff. This episode has plenty of skin and hot sex scenes plus it was nice eye candy treat seeing Pamela in that sexy black bra. Only strange is how a cursed doll with old voodoo plays a part in all of this. Overall good first episode that was well done.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
