One of David Ayer 's most controversial films, , has jumped into Hulu's Top 10 movies list. The 2020 film has garnered renewed interest despite the controversies surrounding the movie upon its initial release to streaming and select theaters. The movie stars Bobby Soto and Shia LaBeouf as two enforcers (Tax Collectors, hence the title) who work for a crime lord in Los Angeles. The Tax Collector was Ayer's next film after the poorly received Netflix original film Bright, which starred Will Smith and Joel Edgerton.
The biggest talking point when The Tax Collector was initially released was the perpetuation of stereotypes closely associated with Mexican Americans, especially concerning Hispanic communities in California. The gang culture at the center of the narrative was heavily criticized, and Shia LaBeouf's performance as the character of "Creeper" was frequently accused of "brownface"— when non-Latino actors play Latino characters— with his appearance and inconsistent performance that switched between an over-the-top Mexican accent and his regular speech.
With the film's newfound popularity on Hulu, it wouldn't be surprising if a discussion about the awkwardly made film is reinvigorated. With a 17% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie already had its detractors from the start, with some critics calling it an "offensive mess." However, interestingly enough, the film also has a 73% audience score, showing that there are some who find the movie entertaining. Much like his 2016 film Suicide Squad, The Tax Collector may have found a cult following on Hulu, with people who appreciate the director's intense filmmaking style.
Despite all the negative reactions to the film and LaBeouf's character, David Ayer has gone on record to defend the movie, saying that the actor wasn't doing brownface, but rather was "a white guy who grew up in the hood," adding that the character assimilated into the Mexican gang culture because he had nowhere else to go. Whether that makes the film and LaBeouf's performance more tolerable is up to the viewers to decide.
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David Ayer wouldn't direct another film until 2024's The Beekeeper, which stars Jason Statham and was received much better than The Tax Collector. Ayer's next film, A Working Man, is slated for release in 2025, which may have gotten some viewers to check out his previous work on Hulu. Whatever the case, it's interesting to see such a polarizing and controversial film edge towards the top of the Hulu streaming platform charts.
Representation in the media has come a surprisingly long way since the release of The Tax Collector in 2020. Despite the pitfalls that were made in the film's portrayal of Chicano culture, Ayer has clearly moved on as he continues to make different films. For those who haven't seen it and may have a morbid curiosity about the film or are a fan of Ayer's work and want to revisit it, The Tax Collector is now thriving on Hulu.
