In the most recently made film offered in the Festival’s Prisons strand, we present this brutal and hard-hitting drama which was deservedly nominated in the Outstanding British Film category at the 2026 BAFTA Awards.
Taylor (David Jonsson) is a timid drug addict in an overcrowded British prison, branded a "wasteman" by society, his family and in prison. He is excited at the prospect of parole in a fortnight; relishing the thought of seeing his teenage son. But as the day of freedom draws near, he is given a new cellmate, Dee (Tom Blyth), a violent, toxically charismatic alpha-dog who wants to take over the prison’s drug sales. Very quickly, Dee has Taylor ‘working’ for him, enraging the prison’s existing top dogs, Paul (Alex Hassell) and Gaz (Corin Silva). This prison picture features a terrific pair of lead performances by Jonsson and Blyth. It is exceptionally gritty and claustrophobic; its tight shots give us nowhere to escape to when the inevitable violence ensues.
UK 2026 Cal McMau 94m
