The prison drama Wasteman, which critics have called "one of the best prison dramas in years" and "without a wasted second", is now streaming on Netflix with a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Directed by Cal McMau, the film runs for a lean 90 minutes, a deliberately concise runtime in an era of three-hour epics. The story follows Taylor, played by Industry's David Jonsson, a passive drug addict who learns he is weeks away from parole after a 13-year prison sentence, provided he stays out of trouble.
Plot and Characters
Trouble arrives in the form of Dee (Tom Blyth), a menacing new cellmate determined to control the prison's drug operation by any means. The narrative is described as suffocatingly claustrophobic, unfolding through conventional cinematography interspersed with raw mobile phone footage shot by inmates.
Prison officers are overstretched, outnumbered and overwhelmed, and every moment feels unbearably tense. While the plot may seem predictable at first, the film's ending is described as a revelation.
Critical Reception
One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer called it "an intense, violent and utterly gripping ride from the off", adding: "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."
Another said: "Visceral film with fantastic performances from both leads and slick direction. Well worth it, and what an ending!"
Wasteman is streaming now on Netflix.
