Payback is one of my most favorite Mel Gibson films, and it comes in two versions, the theatrical version and the directors cut. These two versions are very different from one another. The theatrical version’s camera work is darker and more grittier while the directors cut is more colorful and more light. The directors cut also cuts out some scenes and changes the last part of the plot. I hate that they did this for the directors cut because the scenes they cut out are one of the most memorable and the plot change lessened the movie.
The theatrical versions plot is this:
Porter (Gibson) is betrayed by his partner Val and is ripped off for 70,000 dollars. Porter is left for dead but survives and is fixed up by a black market surgeon. Porter returns to town and quickly goes after Val, when Val is unable to pay him back, Porter kills him and goes after the organization that hold his money. Porter kidnaps the top guys son and holds him ransom for the 70k he is owed. Porter kills the bad guys and gets the money and the movie ends with him driving off.
The directors cut plot is this:
Porter is ripped off by Val for 70k and is left for dead. It is never revealed how Porter is helped to heal from his wounds in this version. He finds Val and kills him when he does not have his money. He goes after the organization that does have his money and starts killing the leaders of the organization. Finally they agree to a drop to give him his money. In the process of completing the drop Porter is seriously injured again but drives off with the money nonetheless.
Both are good movies, but the directors cut definitely looses some the nitty gritty feel of the movie. Both are worth a watch but the theatrical version is much better in my opinion.
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