The Price of Loyalty?

In Los Angeles’ criminal underworld, respect is earned through fear — and debts are collected in flesh. The Tax Collector (2020) dives deep into the violent economy of loyalty, betrayal, and family, where every handshake hides a knife and every deal carries a countdown.

The Plot

David (Bobby Soto) and Creeper (Shia LaBeouf) work as “tax collectors” for a powerful crime lord named Wizard, collecting a cut from every gang operation across L.A. For years, they’ve ruled the streets through intimidation and efficiency — until an old rival, Conejo, returns to reclaim the city.

As their empire begins to crumble, David finds himself fighting not only for control, but for his family’s survival. What starts as business turns into a war that exposes the fragility of power — and the cost of loyalty in a world where everyone bleeds for someone else’s sins.

Why It’s More Than Just Another Gangland Thriller

Street realism with heart – Director David Ayer (End of Watch, Training Day) brings his trademark raw, sunburned Los Angeles energy — gritty, emotional, and unfiltered.
Shia LaBeouf’s transformation – Playing Creeper, he fully commits to the role with unnerving intensity, becoming both comic relief and chaos incarnate.
Family as the anchor – Beneath the violence and tattoos, the story centers on David’s love for his wife and kids — his real weakness in a world built on strength.
Moral chaos – There are no clean heroes here. Everyone is both victim and villain, trapped in the same violent system they uphold.

Interesting Facts

Shia LaBeouf reportedly got his entire chest tattooed for real for this role — a bold move even by method-acting standards.
Director David Ayer grew up in South Central L.A., giving the film its authentic street-culture edge.
The movie reuses Ayer’s signature storytelling style — cops, criminals, and the thin line that separates them.
Though divisive among critics, it developed a cult following for its unapologetic rawness and performances.

That Said;

The Tax Collector (2020) isn’t about crime — it’s about the illusion of control in a world run by violence. It’s loud, brutal, and unflinchingly moral in its own twisted way. David’s struggle isn’t just for survival; it’s a fight to protect what little purity still exists in his corrupted life.

Because when loyalty is your currency…
You either pay up — or get collected.