RATING: C+

Buffalo 8 presents a Helix Reel Entertainment and MaketheFilms production. Written, produced, edited, and directed by Mike Gallant. Cinematography by Chris Morby. 

Stars Mike Gallant, Dwain Murphy, Golden Madison, with Seled Calderon, and Jason Pennell. 

This film could have had a chance to be a pretty decent heist flick. Sadly, it is mostly “all talk and almost no walk”. 

Steve is a man who, at one point, was living his happiest life. He met his true love Dawn, got married, and started a family. However, the pressures of financial stress have caused him to feel the reality of what’s happened. With his wife pregnant with their second child, Steve is at a standstill and must find a way to get money when his former business goes down the drain. He reconnects with an old friend, former undercover cop Murphy, and the two hatch a plan to earn some quick cash.

Murphy believes a corrupt politician, Peter Freeman, owes him money. The plan is to hold him hostage, crack open his safe, and recover the money for both of them. However, their plan gets complicated when Ximena, an acquaintance of Peter’s, happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Murphy finds himself instantly attracted to Ximena, but Steve expects Murphy to get his head in the game. Will Steve and Murphy be able to complete their plan, or will the mind games that Freeman starts kick in and ruin any chance of happiness for the duo?

I have to give kudos to writer-director-star Mike Gallant. He came up with an interesting premise for a story about two down-and-out guys who make a last-ditch attempt to pull a heist against a dirty politician and what happens when things get complicated. From the marketing of the film, it feels like it could be a heist movie mixed with a cat-and-mouse game. Well, it felt more like the latter than the former. There was more talk than actual action, unless you count Murphy’s canoodling with Ximena, which puts a wrench into the plan. 

The film having more talk makes it more like a drama than an action film, and yet, the marketing makes it look like an action film. There are some good, sometimes funny moments in the film. For instance, Steve catching Murphy and Ximena in the aftermath of their romp, and Steve’s instant reaction, is actually quite funny to watch. However, some props have to also go to Jason Pennell’s corrupt Peter. He’s the one who sets up the mind games to the point where he attempts to drive a wedge between the two partners, especially when Ximena offers to get in on a piece of the pie. 

While the film attempts to do something different with the heist, it sometimes feels like a very sluggish burn that only has beats that work. However, it feels like the burn is so slow that by the time there is some actual action that can be deemed exciting, you have to ask yourself, “was it worth the wait”. Well, if the action happens in the last few moments, it sadly wasn’t for me. 

Backpay had a good idea, but its execution left something that just felt missing. It was more talk and not enough action for me. I wanted to like it, but it just felt really slow but there is sometimes too slow. But, it doesn’t mean there isn’t potential there. In fact, with its only 7-day shoot, it can be understandable. So it’s ultimately forgivable.