Sunday, June 26, 2022
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
FLICKFEAST
No Result
View All Result
Home Festivals

GFF 21: The Toll (2021) Review

Dallas King by Dallas King
February 26, 2021
in Festivals, Film Review
GFF 21: The Toll (2021) Review

Courtesy of Glasgow Film Festival

17
SHARES
1.7k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Just like The Toll he oversees, Michael Smiley discovers that everybody has to pay for the sins of the past.

Calling local cop Catrin to his toll booth late one night, he spins her a web of intrigue as tangled as a Spaghetti western. One that is as darkly comic as the Coen Brothers and violent as a Tarantino flick.

You might also like

Elvis (2022) – Film Review

The Black Phone (2022) – Film Review

Lightyear (2022) – Film Review

Brendan is a man who is happy with the quiet life. Overseeing Wales’s least frequented toll booth, he sits and reads a book where “nothing much happens”. He has built a bubble to insulate him from the outside world but that bubble is about to burst.

The past he has run from returns to haunt him when an old associate accidentally stops by the toll booth. Setting off a chain of events that will eventually snowball into a Mexican (or should that be Welsh) standoff.

Instead of the Man With No Name, he is the man with no descernable backstory. When Catrin tries to dig a little deeper into his past with the locals, each has their own version of events. Ranging from the plot of The Shawshank Redemption to Star Wars.

Michael Smiley is always a welcome screen prescence. From making a hilarious first impression as Tyres in Spaced, he has gone on to stealing scenes and solid supporting roles in the likes of Free Fire, Kill List and Censor. It is great to see him in a leading role and director Ryan Andrew Hooper takes full advantage of this. The sharp and witty script by Matt Redd allows him to use his natural charm and humour whilst tapping into a steeliness under the surface.

The film draws on inspirations such as Tarantino and the Coens but thankfully it does not ape them to the point it becomes a carbon copy or poor imitation.

Hooper’s feature debut makes a strong impression and here, The Toll, is one definitely worth paying.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Director: Ryan Andrew Hooper
Stars: Michael Smiley, Annes Elwy, Iwan Rheon, Julian Glover
Runtime: 83 minutes
Country: UK

Tags: #GFF21glasgow film festivalGlasgow Film Festival 2021Matt ReddMICHAEL SMILEYRyan Andrew HooperThe TollWales
Dallas King

Dallas King

Related Posts

Elvis (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Elvis (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
June 20, 2022
The Black Phone (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

The Black Phone (2022) – Film Review

by William Stottor
June 21, 2022
Lightyear (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Lightyear (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
June 16, 2022
Swan Song (2021) – Film Review
Film Review

Swan Song (2021) – Film Review

by William Stottor
June 15, 2022
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
June 11, 2022

Recommended

TIFF 2016 – La La Land (2016)

La La Land (2017)

January 16, 2017

Win Big Trouble in Little China SteelBook

December 10, 2021

Don't miss it

Father of the Bride (2022) – Film Review
Reviews

Father of the Bride (2022) – Film Review

June 25, 2022
Elvis (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Elvis (2022) – Film Review

June 20, 2022
The Black Phone (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

The Black Phone (2022) – Film Review

June 21, 2022
Lightyear (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Lightyear (2022) – Film Review

June 16, 2022
Swan Song (2021) – Film Review
Film Review

Swan Song (2021) – Film Review

June 15, 2022
Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) – Film Review
Film Review

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) – Film Review

June 11, 2022
flickfeast

Whetting your appetite for cinema with the best film reviews and features since 2009

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

Posting....