The Debt Collector aka PAY
DAY
One of the busiest men in Independent Movie action cinema returns,
yes in this 2018 film directed by Jesse V Johnson Scott Adkins plays
French a British guy living in Hollywood who runs a small Martial
arts school.
But mounting debts, few students, and competition from a bigger group
who are trying to muscle in on what action he does have to see French
make a tough life choice by going into the debt collecting business
working for local boss Tommy.
Upon recommendation from his friend and cohort Alex, French gets a
suit, and day one is teamed up with old school collector Sue who
lives life day by day without much self-pride and just wants to get
the job done to earn his buck.
The film sees French over the course of three days in his new job in
the shady business of debt collecting.
What French does not count on is his first job being one nearly
costing his life as he chases down two late payers who are trying to
skip out.
The star of the film is of course the action, as French goes through
the day he gets into constant fights with hired muscle working for
the debt owers.
Once again Scott Adkins gets to show off his versatile repertoire in
fight action as he battles against bullets, Bats, and Hulk-like
muscle.
One-stop sees French going up against two humongous guys that make
him look tiny, as he gets thrown about and smashed through walls but
always ends up getting the upper hand.
Teamed up with his teacher Sue who likes to give the new boy a head
start by getting him to do most of the fighting.
As the intrepid duo drive around in a classic 70's American Coupe
going from door to door to get what's owed French gets decidedly more
worn-torn as the day goes on, while his mentor Sue seems relatively
unscathed for the most part.
By the third day, the story has taken a twist and their Boss Tommy
has them working a case to track down a guy who has apparently been
stealing from big wig local boss Barbosa.
Scott Adkins has done a few films with director Jesse V Johnson and I
think this is the third I have seen, the others being Avengement and
Accident Man.
There's no doubt about the style of film Johnson makes, there are
little fancy flying kicks and long drawn out battles of honor here,
the name is how brutal can we make it, headbutts, broken noses, and a
good ole beating is the name of the game here, a trademark of a film
by Johnson.
I was pleased to see actor Michael Pare on board as Alex, he was an
actor I followed back in the day, not to mean I was a stalker, I
just enjoyed his films and tracked down many he was in, my favorite
being Streets of Fire where he starred with a then-unknown Willem
Defoe.
Unfortunately, his role is like an extended cameo and he does get
much screen time.
But we also have Louis Mandylor as Sue whose role is that of a
co-star here and he even gets to show he still has the moves. For
those in the know, Louis Mandylor starred in the first series of
Martial Law with Sammo Hung.
I enjoyed Pay Day for what it was a 90-minute action-fueled fistfight
where French goes through more clothes than the Incredible Hulk.
Will it win awards? Probably not.
Should you watch it? Hell yes.
It also goes to show that not everyone is a total Bastard and
sometimes the road to honor is a better path and sometimes it's not.
Review By Sertes Nake
Review Date: 31-08-2021
