The Toll (2021)

"Entertaining Black Comedy Set in Wales"

More precisely it's set in Pembrokeshire - "where English people come to die" as it says close to the beginning of THE TOLL which is getting a cinema and digital release from Signature Entertainment at the end of August.

Michael Smiley is our unnamed protagonist who, for the last 29 years, has been manning the quietest toll booth in Wales. And he's been doing that for a reason. He has a dark past that's about to catch up with him in the form of vengeful gang boss Magnus (Julian Glover) and his goons. Fortunately our hero has not wasted his time in the back of beyond and has recruited a number of colourful characters as helpmates whenever he needs somebody bumping off or a body disposing of. 

As well as Smiley the cast is populated by familiar faces including Iwan Rheon and Paul Kaye, and even Steve Oram pops up as a petrol station owner. Obviously made on a very low budget with most of the action taking place outside, THE TOLL boasts some impressive location work and a surprising amount of nice weather considering it's Wales. It's director Ryan Andrew Hooper and writer Matt Redd's first feature and exhibits the skill, timing and a fine sense of balance between comedy and (occasionally) horror that Edgar Wright is so good at. As such THE TOLL marks them as a movie-making team to watch and the film itself is an entertaining 83 minutes elevated by stylish direction and some excellent performances.

THE TOLL is out in cinemas and on premium digital from Signature Entertainment on Friday 27th August 2021