Faceless

Faceless

Year: 1988

Runtime: 98 mins

Language: English

Director: Jesús Franco

Horror

When a Parisian detective is called to locate a vanished supermodel, his search leads him into a nightmarish world of a rogue plastic surgeon who kidnaps women to harvest their blood and organs for twisted experiments. The investigation forces him to confront a chilling, hidden evil.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Faceless yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Faceless (1988)

Trace every key event in Faceless (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Acid attack disfigures Ingrid

A former patient seeks revenge for a botched operation and throws acid at Dr. Flamand. The acid misses the surgeon and lands on Flamand's sister Ingrid, leaving her severely disfigured. The attack exposes the doctor’s dangerous methods and sets a chilling vendetta in motion.

early Flamand's clinic, Paris
2

Nathalie abducts Barbara Hallen during Paris photoshoot

During a Paris photoshoot, Nathalie, Flamand's assistant and lover, abducts American model Barbara Hallen. Barbara is taken away from the shoot and brought to Flamand's clinic. The kidnapping marks the start of a horrifying sequence of events.

during the photoshoot Paris
3

Barbara imprisoned; clinic reveals 'miracle treatments'

Barbara is locked in the basement of Flamand's clinic. It is revealed that Flamand uses blood and body parts from kidnapped women to perform his so-called 'miracle treatments' for patients. The basement becomes a grim sanctuary for his crimes.

shortly after kidnapping Flamand's clinic basement, Paris
4

Barbara's father hires Sam Morgan

In New York, Barbara's father, Terry Hallen, hires her ex-boyfriend, private detective Sam Morgan, to locate her. Morgan accepts the assignment, setting the stage for an international search. The stakes rise as the case moves to Paris.

shortly after kidnapping New York
5

Sam travels to Paris and investigates

Morgan travels to Paris and begins investigating Flamand's clinic and the abduction. He starts gathering clues about the surgeon, Nathalie, and the missing Barbara. The investigation intensifies as new leads emerge.

after arrival Paris
6

Grafting plan formed; Moser brought in

Flamand plans to graft Barbara's face onto his own daughters, a grotesque bid to restore his lineage. Dr. Orloff directs them to meet Dr. Karl Heinz Moser, who agrees to assist with the planned surgery. The operation's team is assembled in the clinic.

before the surgery Flamand's clinic, Paris
7

Barbara's face is cut by Gordon

On the eve of the operation, Flamand's mute assistant Gordon severely damages Barbara's face. The cut complicates the already-blighted graft plan and escalates the doctors' desperation. The clinic tightens its grip on Barbara.

shortly after planning Flamand's clinic
8

Melissa kidnapped for transplant; Moser arrives

Flamand abducts Melissa, a call-girl and former patient, to use for the face transplant. Dr. Moser arrives at the clinic to assist with the procedure, joining the grim team assembled for the operation.

around operation start Flamand's clinic, Paris
9

Operation goes wrong; Melissa's face destroyed

During the operation, Melissa's face is destroyed, triggering chaos in the clinic. Gordon severs Melissa's head with a chainsaw, and Flamand and Nathalie decide to abduct another woman to continue the graft. The bloodied scene underscores the horror at play.

during operation Flamand's clinic
10

Morgan traces Barbara's abduction to Saint-Cloud

Morgan traces a credit card belonging to Barbara to the Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud and to Flamand's clinic. He reviews security footage and realizes Nathalie's watch matches the one Barbara wore when abducted. The investigation closes in on the clinic.

after abduction Saint-Cloud, Paris
11

Nurse discovers prisoners; Gordon kills her

A nurse enters the basement and discovers the imprisoned girls. Gordon attacks and kills the nurse, increasing the body count and heightening the clinic's peril for the captives. The danger becomes more imminent as authorities inch closer.

after Morgan's discovery Flamand's clinic basement
12

Actress's face grafted onto Ingrid

Moser, Flamand, and Nathalie remove the actress's face and graft it onto Ingrid's skin, completing the grotesque transplant. The sisters' fates become even more tangled as the operation reaches its brutal climax.

during the operation Flamand's clinic
13

Morgan fights Gordon and is trapped with captives

Morgan returns to the clinic and battles Gordon, ultimately killing him. He locates Barbara and the other captives, but Nathalie traps him inside Barbara's cell. The prisoners are sealed away as the escape plan looms.

after the graft Flamand's clinic basement
14

Prisoners remain as authorities close in; escape plan forms

Flamand, Moser, and Nathalie brick up the cell and prepare to flee as law enforcement closes in on the clinic. The captives' fate remains uncertain, while outside, orders to escape are being considered.

as authorities close in Flamand's clinic, France
15

Terry's rescue plan: a flight to Paris

Sam reveals he has sent Terry a message and warns that if there is no reply within 12 hours, the rescue plan should escalate. Terry instructs his office to book the first flight to Paris to attempt a rescue. The plan sets a countdown for a dramatic confrontation.

post-incident New York

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:36

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A lone investigator descends into a terrifying, hidden world of evil.If you liked the tense investigation in Faceless, you'll find similar movies here. These films feature protagonists uncovering horrifying secrets, often leading them into claustrophobic and dangerous situations. They are dark, suspenseful stories perfect for fans of methodical crime horror and psychological thrillers.

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Mad scientists and deranged doctors inflict gruesome transformations on victims.For viewers who appreciated the extreme body horror and mad scientist premise of Faceless. This selection features movies with similar themes of plastic surgery gone wrong, organ harvesting, and twisted medical experiments. These are high-intensity horror films focused on physical terror and ethical nightmares.

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Narrative Summary

Stories typically revolve around a perpetrator—a surgeon, scientist, or artist—who sees the human body as raw material for their twisted vision. The plot involves the kidnapping of victims and their subsequent physical and psychological torment, often framed as a race against time for a rescuer to stop the atrocities.

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These movies share a core focus on body horror, graphic medical violence, and the concept of a 'mad scientist'. The similarity is driven by a specific, visceral type of fear related to loss of bodily autonomy and the grotesque results of unhinged experimentation.

Unlock the Full Story of Faceless

Don't stop at just watching — explore Faceless in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Faceless is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Faceless Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Faceless, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Faceless Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Faceless

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Faceless. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Faceless

Faceless Spoiler-Free Summary

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Faceless Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Faceless

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