Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- gritty
- tense
- intimate
- serious movie night
- british cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an immersive, gritty prison drama elevated by escalating suspense and powerful chemistry between its two young leads.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Taylor must weigh protecting Dee against preserving his chance of early release.
Taylor and Dee form a bond that is tested by hostility from established prison drug traders.
The film begins with parole anxiety and prison routines before escalating around a vicious attack.
Dee establishes a trade in goods and drugs, provoking resistance from existing sellers on the prison floor.
Films like Wasteman, and why
Starred Up
shared gritty prison drama, male friendship, and escalating suspense
The Prophet
shared british crime setting, volatile male bonds, and morally pressured protagonists
A Prophet
shared prison confinement, institutional violence, and intense character drama
Bullet Boy
shared bleak social realism, criminal underworld tension, and friendship under pressure
Movie Details
- Director
- Cal McMau
- Release Date
- 2026-02-20
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (93)
Cast
- David Jonsson
- Tom Blyth
- Alex Hassell
- Neil Linpow
- Paul Hilton
- Corin Silva
- Layton Blake
- Jack Barker
- Fred Muthui
- Lunga Anele-Skosana
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Wasteman about?
- A parolee’s fragile prison friendship becomes a dangerous test of loyalty, survival, and the possibility of starting over.
- What is Wasteman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wasteman as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Wasteman violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Wasteman as brutal.
- What did critics think of Wasteman?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an immersive, gritty prison drama elevated by escalating suspense and powerful chemistry between its two young leads.
- Which films are like Wasteman?
- Films with a similar feel include Starred Up, The Prophet, A Prophet, and Bullet Boy.
- How long is Wasteman?
- Wasteman runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wasteman?
- In United States, Wasteman streams on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel.
