Wasteman

Wasteman is a raw, arresting new drama that follows Taylor, a young man written off by society, his family, and the prison system as nothing more than a “wasteman.” Despite growing up surrounded by parties, gangs, and violence, Taylor has managed to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. Now, with the possibility of early parole finally within reach, he can almost see a life beyond the cell walls.

But everything shifts with the arrival of Dee — a volatile, unpredictable new cellmate whose chaos threatens to pull Taylor into the very world he’s fought to avoid. As tensions rise and loyalties fracture, Taylor must navigate a system designed to break him while fighting to hold onto the fragile hope of freedom.

Marking an impressive debut from filmmaker Cal McMau, Wasteman delivers a gripping, unflinching portrait of prison life. Anchored by a magnetic central performance from David Jonsson, the film captures both the brutality of incarceration and the quiet resilience required to survive it.

Gritty, urgent, and deeply human, Wasteman announces a bold new voice in British cinema.