At a New York special screening, Wasteman set the stage for a deeply immersive look into UK prison life, led by powerful and emotional performances from David Jonsson and Tom Blyth. Jonsson, who many will recognize from his role as Andy in 2024’s Alien: Romulus, plays Taylor – an inmate on the verge of freedom who has to face the reality of his future being jeopardized as he’s forced to share a cell with the dangerous and unpredictable Dee. Both characters portray their roles with such raw emotion that it becomes impossible not to get fully immersed into this world.
Set entirely within the confines of the prison, Wasteman benefits from its suffocating atmosphere. The film rarely allows its characters a moment to breathe or step away. Privacy does not exist in this world, whether inmates are making phone calls, attempting to get some rest, or even using the bathroom. Dee’s introductory scene to the film makes this last point painfully clear, immediately establishing the uncomfortable and animalistic power dynamics within the cell.
Some segments of the film are recorded via cellphone footage from within the prison, which added so much depth and authenticity to the project. It was extremely easy to get lost in this world and feel trapped right alongside Taylor and his new cellmate. During the post-film interview, Tom Blyth explained that the film’s director Cal McMau pulled a lot of inspiration from real life prison videos in the UK. He noted as well that some of these light recreations got as close as they possibly could to their real-world counterparts in hopes to show the harsh realities of a life behind bars.
Wasteman succeeds in the way that it keeps audiences guessing and clinging on for the next moment. The story continuously places characters into impossible situations, where the decisions that they have to make are gut-wrenching. As the story progressed, it became difficult to tell exactly how Taylor would find his head within everything surrounding him. The tension never lets up either, keeping audiences on the edge from beginning-to-end.
David Jonsson made a point to emphasize the film’s real-world connection when it comes to the struggles that many formerly incarcerated people face after being released, pointing to the fact that many are placed in situations upon freedom that don’t give them a chance to rehabilitate and get their life in order. Jonsson also noted that they worked hand-in-hand with a number of organizations to create the film, and that some of the extras on-screen were recently incarcerated prisoners that they provided with this opportunity. Wasteman is an emotionally weighted journey that shines a much-needed light on the reality that many face within the prison system, and it was extremely eye-opening to not only see the film play out but also hear from those who took part in bringing it to life.
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