It’s hard to believe that The Toll is Ryan Andrew Hooper’s debut feature film – and I mean that as a huge compliment, of course. The Toll is a dark, Welsh-western led by Michael Smiley’s toll booth operator who has a seemingly shady past, one that it is about to catch up with him. A fantastic, deeply funny, definitely quite violent affair that crosses the films of Ben Wheatley with those of Sergio Leone. The Toll review continues below.
The Toll review
Smiley is the unnamed ‘Toll’ man – literally credited as ‘Toll Booth Man’ who operates the lowest trafficked checkpoint in all of Wales, one deep in a rural community where everyone knows everyone. Bored local cop Jessica (Gwyneth Keyworth) spends most of her time attempting to catch speeding motorists on the area’s main road – much to no avail – but there is a purpose to her pursuit after we learn that she has lost someone quite close to her in a hit and run a year previous. However, Jessica’s life is about to change as she is called one day to the toll booth of the title, and Smiley’s character’s want to fill her in on something terrible that has just gone down.
Then we back-track a couple of days to when the smartly-dressed Elton (Gary Beadle) passes through town and exits via the toll booth. He knows the operator, and it is clear that there is a history between them, one that dates back nearly three decades. Now that the toll booth operator has ‘been found’, Elton calls his boss who promptly calls in some extra support for his associate. Indeed, trouble is on its way into town. There’s also a few sub plots involving dogging ambulance drivers (a brilliant, as always, Paul Kaye), Elvis impersonators, sinister roadside café owners and local farmers, all of who are brought into the chaos of this hugely entertaining film.
If a violent comic caper set in the Pembrokeshire countryside is what you’re looking, then indeed look no further than that this. I had a great time with the movie. It’s a wonderfully presented, tight piece of work coming in at just over 80 minutes that’ll delight fans of the likes of Ben Wheatley’s earlier material (the film even shares Wheatley regulars like Smiley and a brilliant Steve Oram). There’s a deeply emotional undercurrent throughout the piece, mostly coming from Keyworth’s Jessica, and I was touched in some places. A more entertaining scene involving the character comes halfway in as she attempts to make sense of the whole charade in the local pub, each patron giving an explanation, all of which turn out to be plots of famous movies. It’s one of the highlights of the film and I was beside myself with laughter.
The violence is comical rather than graphic – for example, when a character is shot in the head, the bullet leaves a clean hole that we can see through – so it is gratuitous in places, but light in its execution.
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As I said at the start of the review, it’s quite a start in feature directing from the talented Hooper and also his screenwriter in Matt Redd, also making his feature debut. I look forward to what they both do next.
The Toll is a remarkable first feature work featuring a brilliant ensemble cast clearly relishing in the material. A darkly humorous, hugely enjoyable comic western that will leave most more than satisfied.
The Toll
Summary
A brilliant told, tightly paced Welsh-western that, although violent, has its humour balanced brilliantly.
The Toll screens as part of the 2021 Glasgow Film Festival.
