Wasteman Review – New British Prison Thriller Is Best Since Sean Bean's Time

Wasteman review – New British prison thriller is best since Sean Bean's Time

Wasteman review. David Jonsson and Tom Blyth stun in brutal new British prison thriller.

Wasteman Review – 'Energetic, urgent and damning'

Wasteman begins in the unmistakable aspect ratio of a mobile phone. In a tiny prison cell, men crowd and jeer, while dark threats are thrown about. “I’ve cut someone’s throat for less than that,” growls one. It’s clear we are watching a prison-made viral video: violence, commodified for the TikTok generation. This is a remarkable feature debut from writer-director Cal McMau, which plays like a modern-day Scum, or a British answer to A Prophet: a…

Wasteman review – an exceptionally gritty, claustrophobic prison drama

Cal McCau’s debut feature offers a rare realistic portrayal of the inescapable cycle of violence, trauma and harm of incarceration.  Recent years have given us so much copaganda – the positive portrayal of policing and prison in popular culture – I imagine even the cops suspect there’s a secret marketing team buried in the bowels of New Scotland Yard. As someone who is, shall we say, less enthusiastic about policing and incarceration, and active…

Don't Be Sh*t! Tom Blyth & David Jonsson on Prison Drama Wasteman

It’s already won a BIFA and, just a couple of days after it launches in UK cinemas, tough prison drama Wasteman will be in the running for a BAFTA as well. But, while it’s an impressive feature debut for director Cal McMau, the film is equally a powerful ensemble piece, with two rapidly rising British actors at the forefront. Taylor (David Jonsson) has been in prison for years. His son has grown up without him and he now has the chance of parole…

Wasteman (Film Review) – Reinvigorates The Prison Drama

There’s a new wave of British acting talent on the rise. While Tom Holland, Florence Pugh, and Josh O’Connor are on the forefront of most people's minds, there are still many other great talents that are making impressive and steady progress.  David Jonsson and Tom Blyth have been turning in great work for the past…