Wednesday 24 November
10am, 2pm, 5pm, 7.30pm
Directed by Ryan Hooper
Thriller/Black Comedy
United Kingdom
83 mins
Brendan works solo shifts in the quietest toll booth in Wales, hiding from a criminal past where nobody would ever look. His problems begin when the toll is robbed by a trio of women dressed in balaclavas; they make off with £1.20 and a ham sandwich. Next, a flashy London gangster drives through and recognises him from his murky past. He is rumbled as word of his whereabouts gets out, and his enemies head west for revenge. What also becomes evident is that he has built up a criminal empire out of his Portakabin and that half the village seems to be involved in his racket.
Meanwhile, local traffic cop has formed some attachment to the toll booth operator, enough to turn a blind eye to anything nefarious he may be doing but her investigation into a simple robbery finds her heading for the booth at exactly the wrong time.
An energetic and witty dark crime comedy featuring a strong lead turn by Michael Smiley. – Matthew Pejkovic
The Toll, …. is a snappy crime movie that hits the ground running and doesn’t ease off the gas until the credits. – Sean Fallon, Film Inquiry