Payback (1995)

Oscar Bonsetter tells a dying prisoner that he will take revenge on the sadistic guard who killed him. In exchange, Oscar is told of a stash of money. Oscar is eventually released from ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Hickox

Writer:

Sam Bernard

Stars:

C. Thomas Howell, Joan Severance, Marshall Bell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
C. Thomas Howell	...	Oscar Bonsetter
Joan Severance	...	Rose Gullerman
Marshall Bell	...	Tom "Gully" Gullerman
Richard Burgi	...	Al Keegan
John Toles-Bey	...	Marcus Jackson
R.G. Armstrong	...	Mac
Steve Wilcox	...	Tough Guy
Lisa Robin Kelly	...	Teenage Girl
David Anthony Higgins	...	Jim Koval
Denise Bessette	...	Jim's Wife
Breckin Meyer	...	Jim's Son
Katherine Barrese	...	Woman in Prison
Dana Sheehan	...	Guard
Frank Strick	...	Gun Seller

Storyline

Oscar Bonsetter tells a dying prisoner that he will take revenge on the sadistic guard who killed him. In exchange, Oscar is told of a stash of money. Oscar is eventually released from prison but when he is goes to get his revenge, he gets sidetracked by the now-handicapped guard and his alluring wife, Rose. The tension builds as Oscar becomes more and more attracted to Rose.

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Plot Keywords:

prison guard | white panties | panties slip | spontaneous sex | bra removing | 

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Taglines:

When a woman stands in the way of a man's revenge, it can be deadly.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Conti in sospeso

Filming Locations:

Cambria, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tapestry Films, Trimark Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Scenes from a Gay Marriage (2012)

User Reviews

An Excellent Film Noir, Full of Surprises and Having a Good Director and Cast

Oscar Bonsetter (C. Thomas Howell) is a punk and during a robbery to a liquor store, he is arrested. He spends many years in prison, where he becomes friend of the old prisoner Mac (R.G. Armstrong). There is a legend in the prison that Mac has a great fortune, fruit of a robbery, hidden somewhere. Trying to get information about the location of this amount, Mac is badly treated by the guard Gully (Marshall Bell). Mac becomes very ill, and a few minutes before he dies, he tells Bonsetter where the money is hidden, under the promise that he would kill Gully first. However, Bonsetter depends on a drawing exposed in Mac's jail to get the precise spot, but Gully takes all Mac possessions with him. Gully starts pressing Bonsetter, believing Mac told him the place where the money is hidden, but suddenly he suffers a car accident, becomes blind and is not able to work in prison anymore. Three years later, Bonsetter finishes his sentence, gets his freedom and looks for Gully, who owns a small bar on a road. Bonsetter meets Gully's wife Rose (the delicious Joan Severance), is hired for working there and becomes his lover, while trying to recover the map from Gully. Many plot points twist this story, until a surprising end, full of betrayals.

I have bought this B film about six years ago and only yesterday I decided to watch it. I was surprised, since it is an excellent film noir, with touches of the 1981 version of 'The Postman Rings Twice'. C. Thomas Howell and Joan Severance have a great performance and one of the hottest sex scenes in the cinema history, comparable, for example, with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange in the foregoing mentioned movie, or Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin in 'Sea of Love'. The story has many plot points and hooks the attention of the viewer until the last scene. Further, it is very well directed. This is the proof that a low budget movie can be a good film, when having a tight screenplay and a good director, actor and actress. Joan Severance is very gorgeous and sexy, besides the great performance. It is highly indicated for viewers who likes films noir and amoral. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Preço do Desejo" ("The Price of the Desire")