Wasteman

Wasteman

Watch in the UK

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8 / 10

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Overview

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.

Media

you be f****ing careful. #WASTEMAN trailer in 3 days

Cast

Director:

Cal McMau

Writer:

Eoin Doran, Hunter Andrews

Release Date:

2026-02-20

Run Time:

90m

Tagline:

A bold new vision of life inside.

Genres:

Crime Drama Thriller

Keywords:

addiction drug dealing male friendship parole parolee prison prison drama

Financials and Popularity

Budget: 1,200,000.00$

Revenue: 1,205,018.00$

Vote Average: 7.3/10

Vote Count: 70 Votes

Movie Popularity: 6.214

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 29 April 2026 at 11:22 am

8 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10 THE SUMMARY Taylor (David Jonsson) is just days away from parole after a decade inside. He’s spent his time keeping his head down, working as the prison barber, and trying to kick a pill habit. His quiet exit is thrown into chaos when a new cellmate, Dee (Tom Blyth), is moved in. Dee is a high-energy, volatile drug dealer with zero intention of playing by the rules. As Dee starts running a drug ring from their cell, Taylor is forced into a brutal corner: does he protect his new bond with Dee or keep his hands clean enough to walk out the front gates? It’s a claustrophobic, gritty look at the reality of the British prison system. THE PROS David Jonsson is phenomenal as Taylor, playing him with a quiet, fragile vulnerability that makes you feel every second of his anxiety. Tom Blyth is a force of nature as Dee, bringing an aggressive, "alpha" energy that is genuinely terrifying to watch. It’s an 8/10 because the film feels incredibly authentic; the dialogue is honest and the setting is bleak without being a caricature. The use of "phone footage" for certain scenes adds a layer of realism that makes the violence feel uncomfortably intimate. It’s a gripping experience that moves at a breakneck pace, clocking in at a tight 90 minutes that never feels like it's wasting your time. THE CONS It lands an 8/10 because the middle part gets a little repetitive with the "will he, won't he" tension regarding Taylor’s parole decisions. Some of the guard characters feel a bit one-dimensional, playing the standard "overworked and uncaring" trope we’ve seen in plenty of other prison dramas. It misses a higher mark because the ending, while powerful, feels slightly abrupt, leaving a few subplots with the prison's internal drug ring hanging. The frantic drum 'n' bass soundtrack is a bold choice, but in a few scenes, it almost drowns out the dialogue, which can be a bit of a struggle if you aren't paying close attention. THE VERDICT An 8/10. A bruising, raw, and honestly brilliant British thriller that marks a massive debut for director Cal McMau. It’s a must-watch for anyone who likes their drama with a heavy dose of realism and top-tier acting. Not quite "epic status" for a 9, but it’s easily one of the best prison flicks to come out of the UK in years. If you want something that’ll leave you feeling a bit rattled, this is the one. It definitely earns its place on the list as a standout for 2026. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Real World Prep: To keep the film feeling as honest as possible, Tom Blyth worked closely with the UK charity Switchback and interviewed former inmates to ensure his performance didn't fall into "prison tourism" clichés.• Tight Schedule: The entire movie was shot in just 18 days inside a disused prison, which helped the cast lean into that genuine feeling of being trapped and isolated.• Physical Transformation: David Jonsson reportedly lost a significant amount of weight to play Taylor, wanting to look physically drained and "invisible" to reflect a decade of surviving on the inside. THE VIBE Like a cold cell at 3 AM. It smells of floor polish, stale tobacco, and the sharp, metallic tang of nervous sweat.

Videos

you be f****ing careful. #WASTEMAN trailer in 3 days

Cast

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Wasteman

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 29 April 2026 at 12:22 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10
THE SUMMARY
Taylor (David Jonsson) is just days away from parole after a decade inside. He’s spent his time keeping his head down, working as the prison barber, and trying to kick a pill habit. His quiet exit is thrown into chaos when a new cellmate, Dee (Tom Blyth), is moved in. Dee is a high-energy, volatile drug dealer with zero intention of playing by the rules. As Dee starts running a drug ring from their cell, Taylor is forced into a brutal corner: does he protect his new bond with Dee or keep his hands clean enough to walk out the front gates? It’s a claustrophobic, gritty look at the reality of the British prison system.
THE PROS
David Jonsson is phenomenal as Taylor, playing him with a quiet, fragile vulnerability that makes you feel every second of his anxiety. Tom Blyth is a force of nature as Dee, bringing an aggressive, “alpha” energy that is genuinely terrifying to watch. It’s an 8/10 because the film feels incredibly authentic; the dialogue is honest and the setting is bleak without being a caricature. The use of “phone footage” for certain scenes adds a layer of realism that makes the violence feel uncomfortably intimate. It’s a gripping experience that moves at a breakneck pace, clocking in at a tight 90 minutes that never feels like it’s wasting your time.
THE CONS
It lands an 8/10 because the middle part gets a little repetitive with the “will he, won’t he” tension regarding Taylor’s parole decisions. Some of the guard characters feel a bit one-dimensional, playing the standard “overworked and uncaring” trope we’ve seen in plenty of other prison dramas. It misses a higher mark because the ending, while powerful, feels slightly abrupt, leaving a few subplots with the prison’s internal drug ring hanging. The frantic drum ‘n’ bass soundtrack is a bold choice, but in a few scenes, it almost drowns out the dialogue, which can be a bit of a struggle if you aren’t paying close attention.
THE VERDICT
An 8/10. A bruising, raw, and honestly brilliant British thriller that marks a massive debut for director Cal McMau. It’s a must-watch for anyone who likes their drama with a heavy dose of realism and top-tier acting. Not quite “epic status” for a 9, but it’s easily one of the best prison flicks to come out of the UK in years. If you want something that’ll leave you feeling a bit rattled, this is the one. It definitely earns its place on the list as a standout for 2026.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Real World Prep: To keep the film feeling as honest as possible, Tom Blyth worked closely with the UK charity Switchback and interviewed former inmates to ensure his performance didn’t fall into “prison tourism” clichés.
• Tight Schedule: The entire movie was shot in just 18 days inside a disused prison, which helped the cast lean into that genuine feeling of being trapped and isolated.
• Physical Transformation: David Jonsson reportedly lost a significant amount of weight to play Taylor, wanting to look physically drained and “invisible” to reflect a decade of surviving on the inside.
THE VIBE
Like a cold cell at 3 AM. It smells of floor polish, stale tobacco, and the sharp, metallic tang of nervous sweat.

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