Payback

Oscar Bonsetta, a young punk is sent to prison for 13 years for arm robbery and befriends an old inmate Mac. Prison guard Tom "Gully" Gullerman unfavourably torments and tortures Mac, in hopping that eventually he'll give up the position of his hidden loot, but he dies before doing so. However Oscar promises Mac that he'll get revenge and in doing so before he passed away he tells Oscar of a paper in his cell that would show the location were its hidden. But when he gets there his cell is cleaned up and Gully is waiting for him. Believing now his knows were the money is hidden, but before he could push him anymore. He has an car accident that prevents being a prison guard. Three years later Oscar is released, and tracks down Gully at road side diner, which he owns with his wife Rose and finds out his blind. Oscar begins working for them, and soon revenge is clouded with sensual passion for Rose.

Anthony Hickok's erotically deadly and charged-up thriller 'Payback' manages to draw you in, and in with its sweepingly causal moving story of twisty intrigue and fabulous performances led by C. Thomas Howell, Marshall Bell and the highly irresistible Joan Severance. The glowing Severance simply smokes up the screen that it's hard to take your eyes off her! The story isn't anything original, but manages to be tempting due to its terse material of desire, retribution, deceit and redemption in a refreshingly above-average script that has appealing shades of film-noir. It's quite like watching a domino effect take place. Lay it out, buy some time and then watch it unexpectedly collapse, as we nervously wait for the right moment to set it all in action. There's a real emotional intensity lurking underneath the surface, and these are broken up with those hot, steamy sex sequences and flashes of violence. Stylish, but compact direction by Hickok is executed very well and he uses the picturesque locations to great effect. It's definitely Hickok's most complete work that I've seen of his. Anthony Marinelli's succulent, silky music score just oozes and sizzles with the on-screen action. A neat little b-thriller.

Movie was not anything great but joan severance was too sexy and i like erotic looks and her sexy scenes. she is too sexy i love her

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.

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.

Take this one home on your next visit to the Video Store. If you are offended by "hot sex", you may reconsider, but the drama is excellent, and unlike a lot of films, the ending does not drag on. It is exciting, and appropriately concise.

After seeing this, I'm looking out for more Joan Severance flicks!