Walking Tall 2 - La rivincita

The Shelton County Sheriff Prescott goes to Dallas seeking help from the FBI against the gang leaded by the criminal Harvey Morris (A.J. Buckley) that is forcing the locals to sell their businesses and lands using violence. Prescott is murdered on the road by Harvey and his men that simulate a car accident and this incident triggers a series of murders in the community. Nick Prescott (Kevin Sorbo) decides to assume the position of his father and together with Deputy Hap Worrell (Dell Johnson), they try to find evidences to incriminate Harvey, supported by FBI agent Kate Jensen (Yvette Nipar). However, when Nick sees that the system is absolutely corrupted, he becomes a vigilante bringing justice with his own hands.

"Walking Tall: The Payback" has a promising beginning in spite of a cliché story of bad guys dominating a peaceful community. However, in a certain moment, the escalation of violence becomes exaggerated with many deaths and even in a corrupted system would have called the attention of the government. Further, the plot is not well resolved since the dirty entrepreneur of construction and his right hand Lou Dowdy end the story in the shadow and without any further reference. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Com as Próprias Mãos 2: O Troco" ("With the Own Hands 2: The Payback")

Sure this isn't the 50 million dollar Rock version but for a low budget DVD this is a solid rental.

I liked that most of the cast were unknowns, it gave the film authenticity. There isn't a ton of action but there are some genuinely tense moments. I haven't seen Kevin Sorbo in much besides Hercules and I was pleasantly surprised how convincing he was in this film. The bad guy, AJ Buckley is nasty and has some great moments. You really hate him and want Sorbo to kick his ass.

Overall I thought it was a good underdog story that's very entertaining. Rent it.

wow this one was pretty bad,, i mean it wasn't the worst i've ever seen probalby 20 worse than this,, but it's very low on my chart, this movies does such a disservice to the character of Bufford Pusser, Kevin Sorbo, where did they find this guy,, Dwayne Johnson,, the Rock was way better and at least in that movie they kept to the original storyline as much as possible, this on veers off into so many directions, i just don't get it,, problem with Hollywood, one movie is a success so they gotta make more, i mean enough is enough, they should have got a better actor,, seagal , stallone, statham,, i was thoroughly disappointed with this one, and wish i never would have bought it.

A woodenly acted unnecessary remake of a remake of a much MUCH better film, This Kevin Serbo helmed straight to DVD action film sees fit to throw every available cliché at the audience apparently in order to pummel them into submission. Sorbo plays Nick, a sheriff returning home looking for vengeance after some local thug kills his father. Why this is billed as Walking Tall 2, I haven't a clue as it has nothing to do with The Rock film and even less to do with the classic original '70's trilogy. To make matters worse the acting's more wooden then Buford Pusser's fabled 2 by 4. A sequel was shot back-to-back with this one and I can say with all confidence that i'll definitely be skipping that likely travesty. Even a huge Sorbo fan such as myself does have his limits.

My Grade: D

All the mileage that could have been gotten from the Buford Pusser story was already gleaned back in the 70s. The Payback is one of two films Kevin Sorbo did with a Walking Tall light plot.

Kevin's back from the army and a pair of no good brothers A.J.Morris and Bentley Mitchum are running things with some organized crime backing. They're acquiring businesses and property with intimidation and worse.

We never learn just what the end game is for the brothers in this film, a big weakness.

Not anything close to the Walking Tall plots from the 70s.