Tollbooth

Play trailer

1:28

Tollbooth

2021

1h 23m

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

A single toll booth on a road in the middle of nowhere. A lone wolf HOWLS in the distance. Actually, it's probably a stray dog, but you get the picture. BRENDAN works solo shifts in the quietest toll booth in Wales, hiding from a criminal past where nobody would ever look. When he finally gets rumbled, word of his whereabouts gets out and his enemies head west for revenge. Meanwhile, local traffic cop CATRIN's investigation into a simple robbery finds her heading for the booth at exactly the wrong time.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Edward Porter

Times (UK)

Ryan Andrew Hooper adds a Welsh spin to Coen brothers-style mayhem.

Aug 15, 2022

Full Review

Cath Clarke

Guardian

[An] entertaining black comedy...

Rated: 3/5

Aug 27, 2021

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Screen International

A youthful exuberance in the writing and a high tolerance for eccentricity makes for a certain gauche quality in this energetic West Wales-set crime film, a debut from Ryan Andrew Hooper.

Feb 26, 2021

Full Review

Dallas King

Flick Feast

as darkly comic as the Coen Brothers and violent as a Tarantino flick... The sharp and witty script allows [Smiley] to use his natural charm and humour whilst tapping into a steeliness under the surface.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 12, 2022

Full Review

Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

This outrageous British crime-comedy prides itself on its desire to not be taken too seriously.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 21, 2022

Full Review

Allen Almachar

The MacGuffin

There is craft and style here, even if the overall result left much to be desired.

Rated: C

Mar 18, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Rick D

Strangely captivating story that takes a while to begin to grasp, but worth the wait. Has a "What the hell could possibly happen next?" aspect, with a bleak, desolate atmosphere, both visually and plot-wise. Not your run-of-the-mill mystery or crime story.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

Full Review

Kev H

Simply wasn't a very good movie. Flat. We've seen it all before and much better executed.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

Jake M

It's about a guy who reads a book about a guy who doesn't do anything. It's brilliant.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

Peter W

Overall, this film delivers a solid combination of thrills and dark comedy. The leading performance from Michael Smiley brings a certain strength on-screen, and actress Annes Elwy is equally enjoyable and likeable. The Toll is certainly thrilling, wacky, twisty, and highly entertaining. Granted, it is a story that won't make a deal of sense at first, but those who stick with it will find it enriching as certain elements come together to deliver a solid finale.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I like the way Liam Lacey reviews this, as ‘a warped Welsh western' akin Coen Brothers offerings. He's not wrong. It's a well cast, slow-building, dry and dark witted Mystery, as much as it is anything else. I'd suggest Thriller is too big a reach, as it really is not… thrilling, that is. The subtlety of the humour throughout is perfect, as it never detracts from the storyline. It's an enjoyable watch, but I did struggle with the relationship between the corrupt and the law enforcers, as there was never really any debate or contest of the Protagonists' confession, nor any real sense of consequence

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really, really enjoyed this film, and that was not knowing what I was in store for when I happened upon it while channel surfing. This virtually unknown little film spins a surprisingly excellent epic tale of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are so many good things that make this film so fun, but the one thing IMO that appeals to me the most is that it has a lot of charm. Don't sleep on this film, as it's like a TARDIS... surprisingly bigger on the inside.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ryan Andrew Hooper

Director

Michael Smiley

Toll Booth

Annes Elwy

Catrin

Iwan Rheon

Dom

Paul Kaye

Cliff

Gary Beadle

Elton

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Tollbooth: Trailer 1

1:28

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

A single toll booth on a road in the middle of nowhere. A lone wolf HOWLS in the distance. Actually, it's probably a stray dog, but you get the picture. BRENDAN works solo shifts in the quietest toll booth in Wales, hiding from a criminal past where nobody would ever look. When he finally gets rumbled, word of his whereabouts gets out and his enemies head west for revenge. Meanwhile, local traffic cop CATRIN's investigation into a simple robbery finds her heading for the booth at exactly the wrong time.

Director: Ryan Andrew Hooper
Producer: Mark Hopkins
Screenwriter: Matt Redd, Matt Redd
Production Co: S4C, British Film Institute (BFI), Great Point Media, Fields Park Media Partners, Western Edge Pictures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2022
Runtime: 1h 23m

Most Popular at Home Now