Payback (1999)

ITV4, 9.00PM ★★

 Brian Helgeland’s directorial debut is an adaptation of Donald E Westlake’s The Hunter, which also served as inspiration for 1967’s Point Blank.

Mel Gibson stars as Porter, who is double-crossed by a friend (Gregg Henry) and his wife (Deborah Kara Unger) and left for dead. Porter survives and while recuperating, stews on how to get back the $70,000 they owe him. There are sporadic thrills, but it all feels a bit generic.