You might think that a film called “The Tax Collector” might be one of the most boring films ever to be made. But make no mistake, David Ayer’s new film, “The Tax Collector,” isn’t about your local H&R Block accountant. Instead, the film is about a man that goes from gang to gang in Los Angeles to collect “taxes” for business. And as you might expect, the man whose job it is to hit up gangs for monthly payments isn’t the nicest guy in the world.
As seen in the trailer for “The Tax Collector,” the film follows the story of the man responsible for collecting monthly payments from gangs and the dangers that go along with this precarious position. Sometimes it goes well and everyone respects the man. But sometimes, especially when money is short, the Tax Collector, sometimes known as “The Devil,” is going to point a gun at your head and threaten to do horrible things.
The film stars Bobby Soto, Cinthya Carmona, George Lopez, and Shia LaBeouf. As is made very clear in the trailer, “The Tax Collector” is written and directed by David Ayer. And honestly, even if the trailer didn’t say that, you could have guessed Ayer was involved in some way given the premise and dialogue in the film.
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In addition to “The Tax Collector,” Ayer is probably best known for his crime films such as “Street Kings,” “End of Watch,” and “Sabotage.” He’s also the screenwriter for the Oscar-winning film, “Training Day.” So, he’s definitely not a stranger to films showcasing gang violence.
“The Tax Collector” is set to arrive in theaters and VOD on August 7.
Here’s the synopsis:
David (Bobby Soto) and Creeper (Shia LaBeouf), are “tax collectors” for the crime lord Wizard, collecting his cut from the profits of local gangs’ illicit dealings. But when Wizard’s old rival returns to Los Angeles from Mexico, the business is upended, and David finds himself desperate to protect what matters more to him than anything else: his family.