Hey gang, Valkor here. And welcome back to another round of MediaView! And I bring to the table a wild thriller that comes with a slice of an unpredictable ending some might not like, but I found that I'm OK with it (no spoilers). The film is called The Debt Collector. And it's sure to be a cult classic! Check it out!
The Debt Collector centers on Frank Vaughn (John Brumpton), a real debt collector (so he says) who is out to collect some serious debt from a bunch of priests who did him dirty when he was a child. After the opening credits, the film wastes no time, jumping right into it with Frank dishing out his style of justice. During one of his collections, Frank rescues a woman named Sarah (Kristen Condon), who was tied up after being raped, and the session recorded by a bunch of unsavory types. After being rescued, she begs Vaughn to help her get back at the men. Frank is reluctant at first but ultimately takes the job. Frank begins eliminating men based on a photo and a name. In doing so, he now has to face off against the mob, Nazis, and an assassin, all looking to take a slice out of him. How it all comes together is rather disturbing. To paraphrase the Nazi guy towards the end of the film “Not really the ending I was expecting”.
The film also co-stars writer/director Nathan Hill, who is a favorite around these parts. His most recent project, Alien Love, is a quirky little film you can check out now on Tubi. But back to The Debt Collector. I had to sit through this one a couple of times to let it all soak in. And once all is done, I think I'm ready to render my verdict in the TOV Breakdown.
The Good:
From the electrifying beginning to the wild and unexpected ending, The Debt Collector is a gripping thriller with plenty of action to hold your interest. The plot works well, though it occasionally veers off course despite being easy to follow (next section). However, it's the ending, which it builds up to that is the payoff. The theme of the film is vengeance. And believe me, there's plenty of it with the body count to show for it. And I'd love to talk about the ending. But I won't do it! I thought it was unexpected and fitting for the film. Some might like it. And some might not. But it's something that can be discussed or argued. Again, I won't get into it. But if you should happen to watch the film, drop me a line and let me know your thoughts. The acting is fair. And if I had to choose my favorites, it would be John Brumpton, whose Frank Vaughn is a cold, unfeeling bastard with every right to be considering what was done to him. But my absolute favorite was Andy McPhee, who plays mob boss Tommy Baker. His scene in the bar, when he finds out about his brother's death, reminds me of Al Pacino's Big Boy from Dick Tracy. I'll even toss some of Robert DeNiro's Al Capone from The Untouchables or Jimmy Conway from Goodfellas into the mix. He's that intense! So much so, that I felt his anger through the screen. And it moved me to the point that I wanted to go out and find Frank Vaughn! OK, that might be a bit extreme. But you get where I'm coming from. Ultimately, The Debt Collector is an amazing and captivating film you won't want to miss!
The Bad:
While I enjoyed The Debt Collector, it's not without its flaws; One example is how Frank and Sarah are discovered too quickly for my taste. I was momentarily left wondering how and when they were even found. There was a news piece about a man and woman leaving a crime scene. But that's about it. Given that Frank conducted the majority of his killings during the day, I would presume that's how he was discovered. Lastly, I felt that the final shootout sequence needed some cleaning up. To me, it was a little all over the place. I get that the budget for the film wasn't high. And I'm sure time also played a part in how things came together. But that final shootout could have spent more time in the oven.
The Ugly:
The flies that made an appearance. I'm not gonna lie... I chuckled.
The Debt Collector is available now on DVD, Blu-Ray, and streaming services such as Google Play and Vimeo. It's an impressive film with an ending that might leave some perplexed. And I'll admit, I was thrown off a bit. But after a second viewing, I found it to be a fitting end. I recommend checking this one out. And out of TOV 5 stars, I'm giving The Debt Collector a solid 4.
