The recent release of the Director’s Cut of Raising Cain ably demonstrated that, given some points of reference and a bit of ingenuity, anybody can create something special from a different source point for their work. This is no truer than with this new online presentation of a popular character in the video game domain.

The makers of the brand new fan-made extended short (44 minutes in total) Max Payne: Retribution, producer Chloe Chudasama and multi-hyphenate talent Leroy Kincard, who writes, directs and co-stars in the film as the lead bad guy Jack Lupino, are to be applauded for this well-made, slickly shot adaptation of the video game which, if given the right platform and exposure, will appeal to both fans of the game and people who have been reared on the likes of Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino.

Max Payne (Joan James Muixi) is determined to get to the bottom of why his life has been turned upside down, thanks to old acquaintance Mona Sax (Grace Tyrrell) who approaches him with information that could be vital to the capture of (and possible revenge upon) drug lord Lupino, as vicious and brutal a baddie as you can get in this kind of film. Inevitably, given the nature of Payne in previous incarnations, violence is going to rear its ugly and vicious head and a confrontation is on the cards….

Max Payne: Retribution demonstrates what can be achieved with limited resources. Amazingly, for a film that was apparently shot (according to the producer) over three years, the continuity and stylishness is consistent enough to hold the attention. Shot in Kent, but made to look – with inserts – like New York City, the film moves at a fair pace and leaves the audience wanting more at the very end.

The filmmakers are intending to launch this with some fanfare, considering the amount of love and effort that has gone into it and with some online encouragement from fans and interested parties, they are certainly on the way to achieving a lot more beyond the world of Mr. Payne.

MAX PAYNE – RETRIBUTION / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: LEROY KINCAIDE / STARRING: JOAN JAMES MUIXI, LEROY KINCAIDE , GRACE TYRRELL / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW