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Wasteman

Play trailer 1:57 Poster for Wasteman Apr 2026 1h 30m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Taylor is branded a "wasteman" by society, his family and in prison. In a world of parties, gangs and violence, he's managed to keep out of trouble. However, with the arrival of chaotic cellmate Dee, the chance to make early parole and get his life back are put in jeopardy.

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Wasteman

Wasteman

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Critics Consensus

A prison picture with a terrific pair of lead performances by David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, Wasteman is harrowing, superbly acted across the board, and revealing about the incentives for violence in the correctional system.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Grierson Los Angeles Times Apr 27
The movie’s bitterest irony is that, of the two men, it’s ultimately Dee who may be more honorable. Go to Full Review
Matt Zoller Seitz RogerEbert.com Apr 17
3.5/4
It's a genre piece with tragic weight. Go to Full Review
Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Apr 15
3/4
Through the jangly use of cellphone cameras capturing violence on the cellblock and a winnowed down running time, “Wasteman” doesn’t waste one second of a film time. It certainly has a surplus of talent in front of and behind the camera. Go to Full Review
Chuck Bowen Style Weekly (Richmond, VA) May 19
This is a ruthlessly assured movie. Go to Full Review
Filipe Freitas Always Good Movies May 13
4/5
Infused with just enough unpredictability, the film sustains attention from beginning to end, refusing to let the viewer look away. Go to Full Review
Derrick Murray That Hashtag Show Apr 30
Wasteman is sometimes suffocating...as explores the strain of an overcrowded prison, but locks you in with its constant sense of dread and looming chaos around every corner. Jonsson and Blyth push the film over the edge of greatness... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Fionn M @fionnmacd 3h Visceral film with fantastic performances from both leads and slick direction. Well worth it, and what an ending!! See more Dugal M @RT35325361 3h Awesome. Was on the edge of my seat the whole film See more JAMES H @MoviezGeezah 3h There is not a wasted second in its 90 minutes – it's an intense, violent and utterly gripping ride from the off. 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 today 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, which works brilliantly. This film was an experience! See more David A @16VIDEO 4h I thought it was fantastic. Great build-up and twist. Artsy with some phone POV filming. And from a viewers perspective, at least for TV, what seems to be an accurate portrayal of what the UK prison system could look like. See more Gareth D @HiGarethDavies 4d Solid prison drama, Blyth is surprisingly good as a psychotic prison thug. Interesting format with the splashes of social media content and shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Enjoyable but not ground-breaking. See more MB C @MB.Cinema May 11 Wasteman is a prison drama .... It follows Taylor, an inmate nearing release, whose fragile routine is disrupted by a new arrival who changes everything. Their relationship evolves into a tense psychological battle, where survival blurs with manipulation. The film builds its conflict through quiet tension and layered character dynamics rather than major plot twists. Strong performances and a grounded atmosphere elevate the story, though some chaotic moments and rushed pacing weaken parts of it. A subtle yet intense character study that explores survival, control, and inner imprisonment...... See more Read all reviews
Wasteman

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Movie Info

Synopsis Taylor is branded a "wasteman" by society, his family and in prison. In a world of parties, gangs and violence, he's managed to keep out of trouble. However, with the arrival of chaotic cellmate Dee, the chance to make early parole and get his life back are put in jeopardy.
Director
Cal McMau
Producer
Sophia Gibber, Myles Payne
Screenwriter
Hunter Andrews, Eoin Doran, Hunter Andrews, Eoin Doran
Distributor
Vertigo Releasing / Sunrise Films
Production Co
Agile Films
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 17, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 19, 2026
Runtime
1h 30m