Deadly Ransom

This is a real fun action movie with a very interesting story. It has lots of action but at the same time humor is sprinkled throughout so that it never takes itself too seriously like most of these type low budget action adventure films. Francesco Quinn is really good in the role of the sidekick to the lead actor Loren Avedon. He provides the comic relief to the weak acting of Avedon and steals every scene they have together which in itself is fun to watch. Brion James is also great as the comic book style instigator of all the twists and turns that occur throughout this very well written script that holds your interest from beginning to the surprises at the ending. There is only one female lead in this movie played by Lisa Crosato. She is also very good and I'd like to see more of her. Over all, in my opinion, I would recommend this movie as a good rental for an entertaining evening. It does not look like a low budget film in the production values just like the other film, "Dead Man's Run," I saw by this writer/director, Robert J. Hyatt. He seems to be able to take low budgets and make good looking quality films. At least with the two that I have seen.

If you like chopsockey movies, Deadly Ransom is for you. The fighting, gunplay, death and violence are endless and quite entertaining if you like this kind of action (and most of the male ,12-39 demographic just loves it) then buy this DVD baby off the web for 15 bucks. The late Brion James plays a delicious villain as the cocaine snorting Bobby Rico. The best part of this film was the strong performance delivered by Lisa Crosato who plays the beautiful kidnapped rich girl. Although the plot is paper thin, Crosato manages to bring depth and believability to her portrayal. Loren Avedon handles the action but should probably be sent to actors jail for twenty to life. Although this isn't academy award stuff, it's still fun to watch.

Do yourselves a favour and don't rent this one. Not so much for the 5 bucks you'll be wasting but for the 84min of your lives that you'll never get back. This movie is sooooooooo horrendous that it will leave you in a state of shock at the crap that you have just witnessed. This is one of those movies that makes you wish IMDB had negatives in their rating system. I for one will be emailing Avedon and asking for my $5 back. And to do me and everyone else a favour and not make any more movies. He makes Olivier Gruner look like an Oscar contender.

I saw this movie on DVD and for a low budget film it had a big budget look with really good photography and interesting locations. The story was very well written and full of surprises as it unfolds. The weakest link in the chain, however, is the lead actor Loren Avedon, but he is shored up by really good performances from Francesco Quinn as a humorous side-kick who can also kick some ass although he is always needing to be rescued and the late Brion James who also adds humor to the action. Lisa Crosato as the fiancee who needs to be rescued by Avedon is solid and very attractive in a wholesome girl-next-door way. When all the action attempts by Avedon and Quinn seem to be failing, Avedon has to rely on his ESP gift to locate his loved one and save her. When she is found the surprises start to unfold one after another to make it a very clever script that is well directed. If you like independent action films with good villians, you'll like this one.

I have seen some BAD movies in my time. Most of em I can dismiss as a good time cause it's all about gettin togetha with some buddies and having a good time or a good laugh. This is not one of those cases. This movie was so utterly lame that I feel violated by watching it. Absolutely nothing redeeming in it at all. (Believe me I searched long and hard to find something) Do yourself a favour and let this one rot on the shelf along with Operation Golden Phoenix.