I believe it is one of the finest Lifetime films. It follows the typical script, but there are no bedroom scenes! While there is some mild profanity, no one loses themselves in wild passion, a usual mainstay of Lifetime films. Instead, the audience is focused on the story at hand. If I had one criticism, it would be that the audience is privy to knowledge that would have kept things more suspenseful for us. Kristy and Emily make the perfect team. I always delight in seeing Kristy in anything as she plays her parts so effortlessly and with such conviction. Together, these two are sweet, strong, and completely believable. I rooted for both of them throughout the film. In this role, Emily is able to demonstrate her immense range of acting that I have not witnessed previously. I never doubted her in the role, and her interactions with the characters were genuine and charming. In addition to this, there is a pristine vulnerability about her that makes the viewer connect with her fears and her joys. As these two face the reality of their imminent danger, both Kristy and Emily inject just the right amount of emotion into their characters to make this all seem real without being banal or overdone. As they both shroud themselves in a safe area away from the city and out in the middle of nowhere, I was jubilant to see Emily's character coming out of her shell and sincerely connecting with the horses and the country. Let's talk about Lucia Walters, shall we? As a police detective trying to protect the Palmer family against all odds, she is ideal. There is no doubt that her character is suspicious of the "bad apple" in the force almost from the beginning, but her journey to discover and prove her conjectures is portrayed with the kind of credibility that I would always expect from an actor of Lucia's caliber. As a definitive veteran of a wide array of films, it was nice to see Lochlyn playing a role that offered him the opportunity to give one of his best performances. He is so correctly cast because in various ways, he is a chameleon. Thus, if his credibility is questioned, he has succeeded in portraying his part successfully. When placed in scenes with Lucia's character and Kristy's character, he appears authoritative and in control. AWhen in scenes with Rick's character, he seems to have no backbone, but when faced with those he considers impotent, he appears to have true conviction. Money can cause a man to be less than he should be, and that is true in Detective Boyce's case. I do believe Lochlyn is able to succeed in representing this charlatan character rather well. Now let's talk about actor Rick Ravanello. I know I have seen him in other things before this–several, as a matter of fact. But it was this movie that caused me to become a fan. There is no doubt that Rick is a powerhouse actor, remarkably commanding in every scene, and it seems that all too often, he plays the "bad guy." In this role of Karl, he is "bad to the bone"–as there are no redeeming qualities at all in his character. And while as a viewer you cheer for his character to get knocked off quickly, you can't help but desire a plethora of "Karl" scenes because Rick plays him so masterfully. I don't know how he can be so believable as a bad guy when he is so nice to all his fans.Thankfully Rick is able to give a sense of charm to his bad guy persona as well. Again, I don't know how he does it, but he certainly has the knack for it. The excitement surrounding this film was that Sebastian was in it. And interestingly enough, he plays yet another cowboy. Although the character himself may not have been written with the care and charm of Cliff Harting on Cedar Cove, because Sebastian is the actor chosen to breathe life into Tom, he is as enchanting, captivating, and gracious as one could want. He is also a gentleman that never pushes too hard, but genuinely cares about these two ladies who are "hiding out" next door.
Sebastian is of a rare breed of actors who is able to bring credibility to any role he is given. While some actors might bring a little bit of woodenness and hokeyness to this role, Sebastian's performance always rings true. He is one who is the consummate professional who is always thorough in whatever role he is portrayingFrom the moment Tom and the Palmers meet, there is an immediate connection. Christy is drawn to the horses, and Sarah is thoroughly charmed by the way he reaches out to them even thought they are complete strangers. To witness the chemistry Emily and Sebastian had on-screen (very much like a father and daughter) was sheer delight for me as they were never on-screen together during Cedar Cove. There was something truly special that clicked between these two actors, and it made me fall in love with Emily as an actress while reminding me exactly why Sebastian is my favorite actor (not to mention my dearest friend). Sebastian has a unique knack with every actor with whom he works. While I am utterly impressed with the effortless chemistry he is able to develop with every actor and actress on- screen. While he invariably relates to each one individually and uniquely as befits their personality, he evermore exudes warmth, gentleness, and authenticity with whomever he shares the screen. . Both Sebastian and Rick play exceptionally off each other, and some viewers may be hard-pressed to decide who should win. But then we are reminded that Karl is the bad guy, and we can only hope that good will triumph over evil. I was thoroughly engrossed in this film from the jarring beginning to the most dulcet of endings, and I cannot recommend this film enough.
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