It would be a lie to say there is a small part of me that is getting fed up with seeing the same cast in film after film, especially when they end up playing very similar characters repeatedly. That’s because it’s not a small part, it’s a big part of me that feels that way. That’s why Wasteman directed by Cal McMau, feels refreshing as it gives rising actors the space to properly show what they are capable of and prove that they have much more range than people might expect.
Wasteman is a recently released British prison drama starring David Jonsson and Tom Blyth. It follows Taylor, a prisoner trying to turn his life around, where his hope is disrupted by the arrival of his new cellmate Dee.
Prison dramas that are especially centred around the British crime do not always sit well with the public. There’s often a general belief or assumption that these films glamorise criminal lifestyles and negatively influence the younger audiences. A few years ago, the film Blue Story was banned from cinemas due to similar concerns while Top Boy has since become the one of the most popular shows on Netflix. Although Wasteman has moments that could be seen as slightly glorifying the prison life, it mainly focuses on the consequences of crime rather than celebrating it. The film makes it clear how easily one wrong decision can spiral into something life changing through its characters and depictions of the prison. The film does not shy away from showing us the brutality of the prison life either as the violence feels sudden, uncomfortable and inescapable making us feel as if we are locked in that prison. Even when someone tries to live a quiet and sensible life in prison, trouble will still find them. McMau makes that clear from the very beginning, opening the film with a scene that immediately set a harsh and unforgiving tone. One feature I appreciated in McMau’s writing is how he builds his characters. He does this by giving them small glimpses of niceness, where they could be funny and even kind, which will almost make you root for them. However, those moments are shattered by their addictions into their criminal behaviour, making their characters feel layered rather than one dimensional villains.
The 18 rating from the British Board of Film Classification says a lot about how far the film goes in portraying this reality. Some of the attack scenes are genuinely hard to watch and leaves you feeling uneasy. Even the more “casual” comical moments of dangerous activities including scenes involving tumble dryers and a bag of sick adds onto the disturbing atmosphere. Given that this film is definitely not for everyone, do be cautious whilst watching this film.
David Jonsson continues to prove why he is one of the most exciting and best young talents right now. With each role, he shows a different side to his ability and avoid being typecast. However, it is Tom Blyth who truly surprised me in this film. He is often associated with playing softer, charming characters in films such as People We Meet on Vacation. Even in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, where he played the the younger version of the ruthless President Snow, the character initially comes across as sympathetic which adds onto his charming look. Contrastingly, Blyth is genuinely frightening in Wasteman. His facial expressions, the dominance in his voice and the way he carries himself completely transforms him into Dee. It is the kind of performance that makes you forget any previous “innocent” roles he’s played. Supporting performances from Corin Silva and Alex Hassell also deserve praise, where they add layers to the prison environment and help build a constant sense of tension making the audiences think the inevitable in certain scenes making it more stressful to sit through.
That said, there are couple of things I wish had been handled differently. At times the film slightly over glorifies certain aspects of the criminal life, briefly showing positives that didn’t really need to be emphasised. It also touches on a few familiar prison drama stereotypes, though thankfully this is limited and does not dominate the film. Overall, Wasteman is a film I think people should give a chance. Although it is raw, intense and at times could be difficult to watch, it still feels honest. More importantly, it highlights the performances from actors who I genuinely believer deserve more recognition and bigger opportunities.
