Netflix’s ruthless prison thriller Wasteman leaves viewers genuinely nervous
Netflix viewers have been left feeling genuinely tense after watching Wasteman, the British prison thriller that has quickly attracted attention since arriving on the streaming service.
The 90-minute crime drama, starring David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, has been praised for its relentless atmosphere and unpredictable story. It has also earned a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 53 reviews.
Wasteman arrived on Netflix in the UK on September 20, 2026, following its limited theatrical release earlier in the year.
A prison drama built around one man’s chance at freedom
The film follows Taylor, played by David Jonsson, a prisoner who has spent much of his life being dismissed as a “wasteman” by society, his family and even other inmates.
After years behind bars, Taylor is approaching the possibility of early parole and hopes to rebuild his life outside prison. He also wants the chance to reconnect with his estranged son.
That fragile plan begins to fall apart when Dee, played by Tom Blyth, becomes his new cellmate.
Dee is unpredictable and quickly draws Taylor into the violent power struggles taking place inside the prison. What initially looks like an opportunity for companionship becomes a serious threat to Taylor’s hopes of getting out early.
The official Netflix synopsis describes Taylor as a prisoner approaching early release who must protect his chance at freedom after his new cellmate becomes involved in a prison drug war.
The story places the two men at the centre of a dangerous relationship in which violence, loyalty and self-preservation are constantly in conflict.
David Jonsson and Tom Blyth lead the cast
David Jonsson takes the central role of Taylor. The actor is known for Rye Lane, Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk, and has also been announced as the new Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Tom Blyth plays Dee, the volatile prisoner whose arrival changes Taylor’s situation completely. Blyth’s previous credits include The Gilded Age and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
The supporting cast includes Alex Hassell as Paul, Corin Silva as Gaz, Paul Hilton as Browning, Neil Linpow as Robby, Layton Blake as Maxi and Keaton Ancona-Francis as Stu.
The film was directed by Cal McMau in his feature debut, with a screenplay by Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran.
Critics have responded strongly
The critical response has been particularly positive.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Wasteman at 100% from 53 critic reviews, with an 86% audience score from more than 100 ratings. Its critics’ consensus describes the movie as a harrowing prison drama driven by the performances of Jonsson and Blyth and focused on the incentives for violence within the correctional system.
Critics have also highlighted the film’s tight 90-minute running time and its use of cellphone footage during scenes of violence.
The Upcoming praised the movie’s claustrophobic setting and said the combination of Jonsson and Blyth creates an increasingly unpredictable dynamic as the story develops. The publication also noted how the use of cellphone footage makes the prison violence feel immediate without relying on elaborate action sequences.
The film’s approach has also attracted attention for the way it presents prison life. Rather than turning the setting into a conventional action backdrop, Wasteman focuses on the pressures and rivalries that threaten Taylor’s attempt to leave prison behind.
Viewers say the tension never lets up
Audience reactions have been similarly enthusiastic, with viewers describing the film as intense, violent and difficult to look away from.
One viewer praised the movie for making effective use of phone footage alongside its widescreen cinematography, saying the contrast helped create an immersive and distinctive visual style.
Another described Wasteman as a brutal examination of the prison system and the cycle of violence in an environment where rehabilitation appears increasingly difficult.
Others have focused on the emotional experience of watching it.
One viewer said the film left them nervous and scared about what might happen in each successive scene, while another described it as a “crazy ride” through life behind prison walls.
The audience response has not been universally positive. Rotten Tomatoes also contains viewers who felt the screenplay was too dialogue-heavy or that the story did not maintain their interest. That mixed audience response sits alongside the film’s much stronger critics’ score.
A film that keeps the pressure on
Part of Wasteman‘s impact comes from how little room its characters have to escape their circumstances.
Taylor is close to getting his freedom back, but Dee’s arrival places that possibility at risk. Dee, meanwhile, has ambitions of his own and becomes increasingly involved in the prison’s internal power struggles.
That conflict gives the film a simple but effective source of suspense: Taylor has something to lose, and almost every decision he makes could push his release further out of reach.
The film was shot at Shepton Mallet Prison, the former Somerset prison that closed in 2013 and is now open to visitors. Time Out reported that production took place there over 14 days.
Wasteman first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 before continuing its festival run and reaching UK cinemas on February 20, 2026.
Now that it is available to a much wider audience through Netflix in the UK, the film is reaching viewers who may have missed its cinema release.
For anyone looking for a short, dark and highly tense British prison thriller, Wasteman offers 90 minutes of escalating pressure, with David Jonsson and Tom Blyth at the centre of it.
Watch the trailer
The official Wasteman trailer is available on YouTube, with the film’s promotional material featuring Jonsson and Blyth as Taylor and Dee.