Frank O’Neal is not someone who takes slights laying down. Having found religion he embarks on an elaborate scheme to get revenge on his old girlfriend, who he believes had an abortion...

Forfeit (2007 - 1 hr, 24 min, 12 sec) is a low budget revenge thriller directed by Andrew Shea from a script by John Rafter Lee. Although the film has its problems, mostly attributable to the budget, for another low cost film from MTI, it actually turns out to be a cracking little drama.

Frank, played by Billy Burke, is a real crazy who works for a dubious security firm, whose practices include having the employees sign over their death-in-service benefit to the company. However this is not Frank’s biggest problem, as he plans to steal the money from an armoured car and fit up his ex-girlfriend for the job. Frank's behaviour becomes stranger as the film progresses. Initially the audience is led to believe that the preacher, who he obsessively watches on television, is actually there. It is only through the course of the film that you start to suspect that the unnamed preacher, brilliantly played by Gregory Itzin, is actually either in his head or the voice of God.

Billy Burke’s portrayal of Frank is at the same time believable and eminently creepy. Although the rest of the cast do a good job, with Sherry Stringfield playing his ex, Karen, both Burke’s and Itzin’s performances pretty much overshadow the rest.

The direction is accomplished for Lee, who has not made that many movies. The film did the festival rounds, picking up a handful of awards and much interest for both the director and Burke’s performance.

The film is presented in 4:3 letterbox with a 5.1 audio track. Although the review disc only came with the theatrical trailer, the finished produce comes with a full length commentary, a 'Making of' featurette, cast and crew biographies and optional Spanish subtitles.

The film is well worth a look, as long as you keep in mind it's low budget.

7

Charles Packer