Porter – Mel Gibsonīs manic character – isn’t happy. In fact Porter is mad. And Porter’s (which is all he’s known as) got all the right in the world to be mad.

See, Porter isn’t a good guy. Porter is a thief. After a successful heist against a Chinese gang Porter is unceremonially shoot in the back by his wife, robbed of the loot by his partner (in crime) and left for dead. Naturally Porter is upset, very upset. So Porter wants a payback.

More specially his share of the $140 000 in loot, $70 000.

Mel Gibsons character is not a nice guy. This is made perfectly clear in the beginning of the film by the filmmakers. He robs beggars, steals cigarettes from a low paid waiter, crushes a stropy barkeeper’s hand and so on. Non too surprisingly though,Porter does have his god sides. He’s got a soft side for animals and greatly cares for a hooker associate of his. He also decides not to shoot his loving wife - to no avail as she (deliberate?) takes an overdose of cocaine.

Porter even makes a fair if not saintly deal with his double dealing slimeball of a ex-partner Val Resnick

" Give me my share and I’ll surpress the urge to shoot you in the face. Twice."

Being the slimeball he is though, Mr. Val Resnick tries to get rid of Porter in various ways which result in his premature death.

Being a man of principle though Porter decides to take his demands for "justice" to a higher level. The master slimeball you see (nicely played by Gregg Henry), was able to buy himself a member-card in a criminal institution called the "Outfit"thanks to loot from the Chinese-heist.

Porter thus goes to the Outfit and demands what he thinks is his right (namely 70.000$) Naturally this is by all standards a not-very-bright-thing-to-do™. Not to surprisingly the Outfit isn’t too co-operative and a small blood bath ensures as Porter presses his demands. A very bruised, battered and beaten Porter eventually gets his money but not before blowing - rather ingeniously – the Outfit’s head honcho to smiggerins.

Special appearance by Ally Mcbeal’s Ling who entertains as an over the top sadistic hooker.

If you take Payback for what it is and don’t the bother about the little logical gaps that linger here and there, its quite an enjoyable albeit bloody action movie.