Wasteman

2025

Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller

9
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 89% · 49 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 89% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 5595 5.6K

prison male friendship addiction drug dealing parole parolee

Plot summary

Taylor's hopes for a fresh start post-parole are jeopardised by cellmate Dee's arrival. As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack tests their bond, forcing Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and his own chances at freedom.

Director

Cal McMau Photo
Cal McMau

Top cast

Tom Blyth Photo
Tom Blyth as Dee
Alex Hassell Photo
Alex Hassell as Paul
Corin Silva Photo
Corin Silva as Gaz
David Jonsson Photo
David Jonsson as Taylor
720p.BluRay 720p.WEB 1080p.BluRay 1080p.WEB
829.31 MB
1080*720
English 2.0
16
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds ...
826.81 MB
1280*854
English 2.0
16
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds ...
1.66 GB
1620*1080
English 5.1
16
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds ...
1.66 GB
1620*1080
English 5.1
16
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by CinemaSerf 7 / 10

“Taylor” (David Jonsson) has been told that early

“Taylor” (David Jonsson) has been told that early release might be in the offing if he can keep his nose clean for a few more weeks in prison. He generally keeps himself to himself, and offers the floor’s drug pedlars a short back and sides now and again in return for a supply of pills. When the newly arrived “Dee” (Tom Blyth) is put into his cell, the pair quickly seem to strike up a sort of friendship as the enterprising newbie sets up a shop trading everything from chocolate to drugs. Needless to say, the established traders don’t take kindly to his new business and so set about restoring their preferred equilibrium. Whilst that might work for them, though, it puts a great and perilous strain on “Taylor” whose chances of parole could well be compromised by the behaviour of his now very angry and vengeful cell-mate. This is a quickly paced and authentic looking prison drama that shows us a dog-eat-dog world at it’s most violent. The prison officers are plentiful enough but seem incapable of stemming the regular drone deliveries or of stopping the gang warfare that prevails amongst inmates for whom law and order is defined more by a survival of the fittest mentality. Jonsson offers us a calm and measured character who is understated and ostensibly just biding his time til he can rejoin his son; Blyth on the other hand presents a much more blatantly aggressive and manipulative character and Cal McCau manages to blend the two together convincingly as this story heads towards a denouement that I felt clever, unexpected and really quite fitting. It’s one of those films that showcases jail as little more than a zoo for society’s undesirables, but this time there is a man with some semblance of integrity and shrewdness behind the bars who is playing a game of his own - and it’s well worth ninety minutes.
Reviewed by 9 / 10

A sizzling and gritty prison drama

Wasteman is a near perfectly executed gritty and gripping prison drama. It follows prisoner Taylor, who tries to steer clear of his troublesome new cellmate Dee as he nears release.Everything about this film feels very authentic, from the performances to the dialogue to the characters. It gives it such an edge and a nervy atmosphere. The story is brilliantly worked, with lots of great depth and social commentary and subtlety. You're invested from the off and stay invested to the final frame. The whole thing is chock full of drama, thrills, and punchy emotional moments.This is in part due to the great performances. David Jonsson and Tom Blyth are both incredible emerging talents and they really shine here. Tom Blyth is particularly electric and erratic in the more flashy role, but Jonsson carries most of the emotional weight and humanity which he shoulders well. A host of great supporting performances fill up the call sheet nicely, but it is Jonsson and Blyth's show for sure.The direction of this film is also really effective. It is stark and confronting, but also has some nice creative flourishes that make for a visually appealing piece. The whole thing is just put together well, with great sound design, costume, sets, etc. A very tidy production indeed.Wasteman is definitely one of the better prison dramas I've seen, boasting an engaging story, great performances, and a gritty and grounded feel.
Reviewed by 10 / 10

Gripping and frighteningly real prison thriller

I saw this last night at the LFF premiere and for me it was by far the highlight of this year's programme. There was not a wasted second in its 90 minutes and it was an intense, violent and utterly gripping ride from the off.Directorially, I thought the use of phone footage was inspired and made the viewing experience feel all the more immersive and real. It contrasted brilliantly with the beautifully shot widescreen footage to create something that felt fresh and original. The portrait painted of British prisons in 2025 was absolutely convincing.Johnsson and Blyth give captivating performances with extraordinary nuance. Dee isn't some two dimensional monster - for all his violence and bravado, we see his vulnerability and humanity thanks to Blyth's mesmerising turn. Jonsson, as Taylor, achieves so much with twitches, glances, small facial movements - it's a remarkable feat.The film is incredibly claustrophobic, as might be expected, and the camera is tight to the pair of them for much of the runtime. The tension builds relentlessly, but there are also occasional quieter moments, which feel like they come at just the right points. The riot scene, in particular, combines beauty with violence in a way that is incredibly effective.I haven't been able to stop thinking about it - and I can't wait to see it again when it come out on general release.
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