Payback is a 1999 crime thriller film directed by Brian Helgeland and based on the novel "The Hunter" by Donald E. Westlake. The film stars Mel Gibson as Mike Markovich, a ruthless criminal who works for a Wall Street firm controlled by the criminal underworld.
Markovich is betrayed by his partner Val Resnick (played by Gregg Henry) during a heist, and is left to take the fall when things go wrong. After serving six years in prison, Markovich is released and decides to seek revenge on Resnick. He enlists the help of a prostitute named Rosie (played by Maria Bello), who becomes his ally in his quest for retribution.
The film follows Markovich as he navigates the criminal underworld in search of Resnick. Along the way, he runs into several dangerous characters, including a sadistic enforcer named Phil (played by William Devane), a corrupt cop named Detective Hicks (played by Deborah Kara Unger), and a mob boss named Bronson (played by Kris Kristofferson).
As Markovich gets closer to Resnick, the stakes get higher and the violence becomes more intense. He eventually confronts Resnick and Bronson in a final showdown, but must make a difficult choice about his own morality in the process.
Payback was a commercial success upon release, and has since gained a cult following for its gritty, neo-noir atmosphere and Gibson's intense performance. The film was later re-cut and re-released as "Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut" in 2006, which features a different ending and a darker tone.
