Spent (film)

Spent (stylized as $pent) is a 2000 American drama film directed by Gil Cates Jr. and starring Jason London, Charlie Spradling, and Gil Cates Jr.

Spent
Directed by	Gil Cates Jr.
Written by	Gil Cates Jr.
Produced by	Jordan Summers Rana Joy Glickman Gil Cates Jr.
Starring	Jason London Charlie Spradling Erin Beaux Phill Lewis
Cinematography	Robert D. Tomer
Edited by	Jonathan Cates
Music by	Stan Ridgway
Distributed by	Regent Entertainment
Release date	July 21, 2000 (2000-07-21) (US)
Running time	91 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$9,287

Plot

Max is a struggling actor in Los Angeles whose career has stalled and debts have mounted beyond his ability to pay. Facing eviction and financial ruin, he makes the desperate decision to use his acting skills to deceive those closest to him rather than pursue legitimate employment.

Max begins by approaching friends with seemingly innocent requests for small loans, claiming temporary setbacks and promising quick repayment. His first target is his girlfriend Brigette, whom he manipulates with fabricated stories about delayed paychecks and urgent expenses. Emboldened by his initial success, Max expands his operation to include family members, acquaintances, and even casual friends like Doug.

As his financial desperation deepens, Max's cons become increasingly elaborate and psychologically manipulative. He crafts detailed backstories for each mark, tailoring his approach to their individual weaknesses and relationships with him. Some victims receive sob stories about medical emergencies, while others are pitched fake investment opportunities or told tales of career breakthroughs that require immediate funding.

The weight of maintaining multiple deceptions begins to take its toll on Max as he struggles to keep his various lies from intersecting. His relationships deteriorate as friends and family members begin to suspect his motives, forcing him to become more creative and ruthless in his manipulations. The film culminates as Max's elaborate house of cards begins to collapse, leaving him to face the consequences of betraying everyone who cared about him in his single-minded pursuit of financial survival.

Cast

• Jason London as Max
• Charlie Spradling as Brigette
• Phill Lewis as Doug
• Erin Beaux as Nathan
• James Parks as Grant
• Richmond Arquette as Jay
• Barbara Barrie as Mrs. Walsh
• Gilbert Cates as Mr. Walsh
• Rain Phoenix as Kimberly
• Kaela Dobkin as Jessica

Reception

The film received generally unfavorable reviews on Metacritic.com, getting 34/100 based on 8 critics.^[1]