Wasteman (2026)

The critic calls it a remarkable feature debut that blends social-realist traditions with fresh relevance to the UK's prison crisis, marked by authenticity from real footage, ex-inmate input and timely plot elements like early-release schemes. They single out the visceral energy, intense tension, and strong performances from David Jonsson and Tom Blyth for praise.

The critic finds the film a powerful debut that fuses gritty psychodrama with hardboiled melodrama, holding tragic weight. Jonsson and Blyth’s inspired pairing as the cellmates is singled out for particular praise.

David Jonsson and Tom Blyth form a compelling yin-and-yang pair in this gritty prison drama about two cellmates navigating violence and survival. The film effectively balances narrative economy with specificity in its exploration of prison dynamics and surveillance.

The critic calls the film a brutally violent and gripping British prison drama that sidesteps familiar tropes with fierce storytelling and committed performances. Rising stars David Jonsson and Tom Blyth are singled out for their convincing portrayals of the central cellmates.

The critic finds the familiar prison drama lifted by the stars’ contrasting energies and McMau’s assured direction. The dueling masculine archetypes and cellphone-shot sequences are singled out.

The critic calls the debut a solid reminder of the sturdy appeal of prison survival stories, thanks especially to Jonsson’s layered performance. The predictable genre elements and focus on the leads’ dynamic are noted.

The critic finds the film a familiar entry in the prison movie genre until it focuses on the relatable nightmare of a terrible roommate. They praise the lead performances, especially Jonsson's empathy and Blyth's menacing presence, along with the use of phone-shot footage for a social media-era feel.

The film offers a strong showcase for lead David Jonsson but otherwise provides little beyond graphic depictions of prison violence. It effectively conveys the brutality and pointlessness of that violence yet fails to justify subjecting viewers to so much of it.

The critic praises the film as a calculated and enticing debut that rises above its influences through strong performances, particularly David Jonsson's nuanced turn as the weary prisoner Taylor, and its contemporary social media motif. However, it doesn't break new narrative ground and leans on familiar prison drama tropes.