Why David Ayer’s Controversial ‘The Tax Collector’ Is Suddenly a Hulu Sensation!

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One of [David Ayer’s] films, titled “The Tax Collector,” has climbed its way into Hulu’s Top 10 movies list. The 2020 film, despite the controversies that surrounded it upon its initial release to streaming and select theaters, has seen a resurgence in popularity. In this movie, Bobby Soto and Shia LaBeouf portray two enforcers (Tax Collectors, as suggested by the title), who work for a crime lord in Los Angeles. “The Tax Collector” was Ayer’s subsequent project following the critically panned Netflix original film “Bright,” starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton.

When The Tax Collector first premiered, there was much controversy surrounding its reinforcement of stereotypes often associated with Mexican Americans, particularly in relation to Hispanic communities in California. The portrayal of gang culture within the storyline drew heavy criticism, and Shia LaBeouf’s portrayal of the character “Creeper” faced accusations of “brownface,” a term used when non-Latino actors play Latino characters. His appearance and performance that fluctuated between an exaggerated Mexican accent and his usual speech style were frequently criticized.

Due to the surge in viewership of the movie on Hulu, it’s quite possible that conversations about this controversial film could gain momentum again. Despite receiving a 17% “rotten” rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and being labeled as an “offensive mess” by some, the movie has managed to garner a 73% score from its audience, suggesting that it’s enjoyable for some viewers. Similar to his 2016 film “Suicide Squad“, “The Tax Collector” might have developed a cult following on Hulu, appealing to those who admire the director’s aggressive style of filmmaking.

‘The Tax Collector‘s Polarizing Hispanic Portrayals Was a Small Misstep in David Ayer’s Career

In contrast to the criticism faced by the movie and Shia LaBeouf’s portrayal, director David Ayer has publicly defended the film. He clarified that LaBeouf was not wearing brownface, but instead played a white character who had grown up in a rough neighborhood, which led him to immerse himself in Mexican gang culture due to lack of other options. Whether this justification makes the movie and LaBeouf’s performance more acceptable is ultimately for the audience to decide.

David Ayer will not direct another movie until “The Beekeeper” in 2024, featuring Jason Statham, which was more successful than his previous work, “The Tax Collector.” Following this, his next film, titled “A Working Man,” is set to release in 2025. This could potentially draw viewers to revisit Ayer’s earlier work on Hulu. Despite the filmmaker’s divisive and contentious reputation, it’s intriguing to observe such a movie climbing the ranks of popular titles on the Hulu streaming platform.

Media representation has progressed significantly since the 2020 release of “The Tax Collector“. Although the movie had its flaws in depicting Chicano culture, director Ayer seems to have learned from these mistakes and moved forward with new projects. For those intrigued by the film or fans of Ayer’s work, “The Tax Collector” is now available for streaming on Hulu.

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2025-01-26 20:05