Face/Off
Movie, 1997, 1996–1999
Face/Off is #20 of 26 in release order and #18 of 26 in chronological order in the '90s Action.
The story
In order to foil a terrorist plot, an FBI agent undergoes facial transplant surgery and assumes the identity of a criminal mastermind. The plan turns sour when the criminal wakes up prematurely and seeks revenge.
Face/Off recap
FBI agent Sean Archer has been obsessed with the terrorist Castor Troy since Castor accidentally killed his son. Archer captures Castor, who falls into a coma, but Castor has planted a bomb somewhere in Los Angeles. To find it, Archer undergoes surgery to take Castor's face and goes into a maximum security prison to question Castor's brother Pollux. Castor wakes, forces the doctors to give him Archer's face, kills everyone who knew, and takes over Archer's life, job and family. Archer, trapped in prison as Castor, escapes and seeks help from Castor's friends, including Sasha, the mother of Castor's son Adam.
Face/Off ending explained
Archer convinces his wife Eve of the truth with a blood test. At a funeral in a church, the two men shoot it out, and Sasha dies, asking Archer to look after Adam. After a speedboat chase, Archer kills Castor with a harpoon gun. Archer gets his own face back and brings Adam home to his family.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Face/Off
Face/Off is streaming on Philo, AMC+, Kanopy, Hoopla, and BBC America in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Con Air, before Air Force One.
- Chronological order: after Con Air, before Air Force One.
Cast
- John Travolta as Sean Archer
- Nicolas Cage as Castor Troy
- Joan Allen as Eve Archer
- Alessandro Nivola as Pollux Troy
- Gina Gershon as Sasha Hassler
- Dominique Swain as Jamie Archer
- Nick Cassavetes as Dietrich Hassler
- Harve Presnell as Victor Lazarro
- Colm Feore as Dr. Malcolm Walsh
- John Carroll Lynch as Prison Guard Walton
- CCH Pounder as Hollis Miller
- Robert Wisdom as Tito Biondi
Directed by John Woo.