Payday doesn't have an expressive style that says there's something more than Maury Dann's corruption. There's no rage in the film, and no sensibility that goes beyond awareness, except in a few flashes.

Such consistent recourse to convention is especially sad to see in a first feature.

It all seems unrealized, unrelated-like illustrative material for a movie not yet made.

Mr. Torn has got the cruel grin of moral nullity off to a fine art, and there is an equally excellent performance from Cliff Emmich.