Starred Up
A ferociously realistic British prison drama follows a violently volatile young inmate confronting his estranged father and the possibility of change.
Overview
A violent teenager confronts his past and his father in a brutal adult prison.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- harrowing
- foreboding
- visceral
- serious movie night
- british cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a smart, hard-hitting, queasily realistic British prison drama distinguished by powerful acting, assured direction, and a compelling father-son dynamic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film examines how prisoners and staff coexist within a dehumanizing adult penitentiary rather than treating incarceration as mere backdrop.
Neville attempts to guide Eric after Eric has been separated from him since childhood and transferred into the adult prison where Neville is incarcerated.
Eric’s extreme violence and restless confrontational behavior are tested against the prison’s masculine hierarchy and therapeutic intervention.
Critics specifically praised the film’s realism and described its portrayal of prison culture as hard-hitting and queasily realistic.
Films like Starred Up, and why
A Prophet
hard-edged prison drama, institutional realism, and tense psychological conflict
The Shawshank Redemption
claustrophobic prison setting, moral pressure, and stark social realism
Bronson
intense prison violence, masculine power struggles, and emotionally charged character dynamics
A Man Escaped
austere incarceration drama centered on dehumanizing institutions and inner transformation
Movie Details
- Director
- David Mackenzie
- Release Date
- 2014-03-21
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (1044)
Cast
- Jack O'Connell
- Ben Mendelsohn
- Rupert Friend
- David Ajala
- Peter Ferdinando
- Gershwyn Eustache Jnr
- Anthony Welsh
- David Avery
- Sian Breckin
- Sam Spruell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Starred Up about?
- A ferociously realistic British prison drama follows a violently volatile young inmate confronting his estranged father and the possibility of change.
- What is Starred Up like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Starred Up as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Starred Up violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Starred Up as brutal.
- What did critics think of Starred Up?
- Critics broadly regard it as a smart, hard-hitting, queasily realistic British prison drama distinguished by powerful acting, assured direction, and a compelling father-son dynamic.
- Which films are like Starred Up?
- Films with a similar feel include A Prophet, The Shawshank Redemption, Bronson, and A Man Escaped.
- How long is Starred Up?
- Starred Up runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Starred Up?
- In United States, Starred Up is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
