Rip Torn plays Maury Dann a drifting country singer. The film covers only a short period of Dann's life, but during that time we discover that Dann is a conceited, manipulative, abusive man, who manages to put on an amicable face for his fans. Rip Torn is quite excellent in this film, and though Dann is hard to like he commands every scene and we see a man fueled by ego, alcohol, pills and junk food.
We get a sense of the poverty and desperation of Dann's roots when he goes to visit his mother, who relies upon her son for her financial support and her pill addiction. We see the disconnect Dann has with his children, as he visits an ex wife hoping to see his kids, who aren't there, Dann is unable to remember their birthdays or their ages.
Later in the movie Dann is at a restaurant eating with his entourage and is confronted by a man who is unhappy with the singer for a tryst he had with the man's girlfriend. Things spiral badly out of control from there and soon trouble looms over him as he finds it isn't easy getting free of the mess he created.
The film concludes with a memorable scene of chaos as Dann drives wildly through the countryside. There is a brief flash of Dann's crazed, almost psychotic eyes peering in the rear view mirror of the car as he drives. That brief moment gave me chills.
Payday is an obscure film, perhaps cult film, and belongs in the pantheon of effective Southern gothic movies, a genre that is dear and relatable to me. This film is worth your time if you are able to find it.
We get a sense of the poverty and desperation of Dann's roots when he goes to visit his mother, who relies upon her son for her financial support and her pill addiction. We see the disconnect Dann has with his children, as he visits an ex wife hoping to see his kids, who aren't there, Dann is unable to remember their birthdays or their ages.
Later in the movie Dann is at a restaurant eating with his entourage and is confronted by a man who is unhappy with the singer for a tryst he had with the man's girlfriend. Things spiral badly out of control from there and soon trouble looms over him as he finds it isn't easy getting free of the mess he created.
The film concludes with a memorable scene of chaos as Dann drives wildly through the countryside. There is a brief flash of Dann's crazed, almost psychotic eyes peering in the rear view mirror of the car as he drives. That brief moment gave me chills.
Payday is an obscure film, perhaps cult film, and belongs in the pantheon of effective Southern gothic movies, a genre that is dear and relatable to me. This film is worth your time if you are able to find it.