O Preço do Desejo

Saw this movie and thought it was a decent story line (it's been done before many times over). But, Joan Severance makes it a 10, boy is she sexy. That face, those eyes, those sexy long legs...

She is considered a B-Movie and scream queen actress, but you will become a fan after seeing her in this movie !

Oscar Bonsetter (C. Thomas Howell) is a punk sent to prison for a shootout in a convenient store. He promises dying elderly prisoner Mac to avenge his death against the sadistic guard Gully (Marshall Bell). In return, he tells Oscar of a hidden stash of cash. Both Gully and Oscar are after the cash but neither has the complete picture. Gully tortures Oscar but he never submits. Oscar is released and finds Gully now blind. Oscar is also attracted to Gully's waitress wife Rose (Joan Severance).

This has the basics of a good Hitchcockian thriller. It's three characters with their own agenda and secrets in a seacliff diner. The style is too much exploitation B-movie. The writing is not necessarily well done but it's certainly better than most lower-rate erotic thrillers.

Oh wait, wrong movie. He's not needed here tho. This is an above average movie. Joan Severance should be a much bigger star than she is. Why isn't she? She's completely gorgeous and can act. This movie has a few surprises here and there. Nothing mindblowing or completely out of the blue. But definitely worth watching the next time it comes on cinemax.

Surprisingly good: script with twist (true suspense), good acting by C.Thomas & Joan Severence. Direction was particularly good.

Before Mad Mel, came in blazing some payback of his own, four years, prior, this exciting B gradie fun pic, teased us with some nice push the envelope sex scenes, dome to a nice tune, and blood spilling violence and HOWELL. He's one of my favorite actors who never lacks, a good actor who like others, was dealt a bad blow, such as his loser ex con character, Oscar Bonsetta, out to settle some scores, and carry out a old dying prisoner's wish, to collect this hidden loot, with the aid of a treasure map. When released he tracks down an old enemy warden, now blind and shacked up with hottie, Severance (the super charged sex scenes with her and Howell are unforgettable). Parading as someone else, so his blinded arch enemy warden doesn't catch on, Howell settles into this seaside hotel, run by the couple, quite nicely. Howell really plays the loser well, and I must say, it's bad hand of fate, was a nice, admirable, shock point, and yes there are a few thrills and twists, that makes Payback, a nice little orchestrated B grade with style, not to mention, a cool shootout opening, wonderfully done, by a director I admire, who like Mark L Lester, makes addictive bubble gum pics. It's not just Howell, that's good, but honestly, his performance was one of the best. There's a real nasty moment too, in a hate fueled scene, between Howell and Richard Burgi (Hostel 2, Friday 13th remake) who plays the warden's cowboy, cop brother, that for me was the standout scene. And yes, Severance here, is her pretty hottest. This whole movie runs so nicely, and is definitely worth it's weight in view, where the sex scenes, may seem overlong, but man are they hot.