In "A Deadly Price for Her Pretty Face" (a.k.a., "Model Citizen"), the only question to answer is who is the nastiest character in the film? the kidnapper Shawn Walton? Or, is it Nick Archer, the oily ex-husband of Amanda, who hired Shawn to kidnap his ex-spouse during a custody battle for little Zooey?
The film was overly unpleasant with the laboriously paced hostage scenes, as well as the pitiful case of the terminally ill brother of Shawn named Tyler Walton. While Tyler feels sympathy for Amanda's plight, he doesn't have the gumption to completely stand up to his domineering older brother.
The background details of the screenplay were so dismal that we learn how Amanda's husband Nick used his clout at the local hospital to kick out the desperately ill Tyler because he couldn't pay his medical bills. And Shawn's violent streak was apparent at an early age. When he was sadistically playing "keep away" with the doll of his little sister Lana, the child raced out in the street and was fatally struck by a passing vehicle. Now, Shawn is playing his demented adult version of "keep away" in the kidnapping of Amanda and demanding a hefty ransom from Nick. Shawn's even more repugnant "Plan B" is to host an internet auction for Amanda to be sold as a slave in human trafficking.
The most uplifting scenes in the film are those with Amanda and little Zooey. It is the love of a mother and daughter that sustains them both through the ordeal. One of the more interesting characters in the film is Darcy, the new wife of Nick. It turns out that Darcy has a conscience when it becomes apparent to her that her husband is not only a liar, but an accessory to kidnapping.
In the denouement, it is clear that order has been restored to the world when Amanda reclaims her maiden name Broughton, as well as her daughter at a time when it appears as though her husband will be wearing an orange jumpsuit at least until Zooey reaches adulthood.
The film was overly unpleasant with the laboriously paced hostage scenes, as well as the pitiful case of the terminally ill brother of Shawn named Tyler Walton. While Tyler feels sympathy for Amanda's plight, he doesn't have the gumption to completely stand up to his domineering older brother.
The background details of the screenplay were so dismal that we learn how Amanda's husband Nick used his clout at the local hospital to kick out the desperately ill Tyler because he couldn't pay his medical bills. And Shawn's violent streak was apparent at an early age. When he was sadistically playing "keep away" with the doll of his little sister Lana, the child raced out in the street and was fatally struck by a passing vehicle. Now, Shawn is playing his demented adult version of "keep away" in the kidnapping of Amanda and demanding a hefty ransom from Nick. Shawn's even more repugnant "Plan B" is to host an internet auction for Amanda to be sold as a slave in human trafficking.
The most uplifting scenes in the film are those with Amanda and little Zooey. It is the love of a mother and daughter that sustains them both through the ordeal. One of the more interesting characters in the film is Darcy, the new wife of Nick. It turns out that Darcy has a conscience when it becomes apparent to her that her husband is not only a liar, but an accessory to kidnapping.
In the denouement, it is clear that order has been restored to the world when Amanda reclaims her maiden name Broughton, as well as her daughter at a time when it appears as though her husband will be wearing an orange jumpsuit at least until Zooey reaches adulthood.
