Wasteman: The Netflix Prison Thriller Leaving Viewers Genuinely Nervous

Netflix viewers are finding it increasingly difficult to look away from Wasteman, a tense British prison thriller built around one man’s fragile chance at freedom.

Starring David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, the 90-minute crime drama follows a prisoner nearing early parole whose hopes of rebuilding his life are thrown into uncertainty when a volatile new cellmate enters the picture.

The film arrived on Netflix in the UK on September 20, 2026, after receiving a limited theatrical release earlier in the year. It has also attracted a strong critical response, with Rotten Tomatoes currently listing a 100% critics’ score from 53 reviews.

A Second Chance Put At Risk

Jonsson plays Taylor, a prisoner who has spent much of his life being dismissed as a “wasteman” by society, his family and fellow inmates.

After years behind bars, Taylor is finally approaching the possibility of early parole. He hopes to build a life outside prison and, perhaps most importantly, repair his relationship with his estranged son.

But his plans become much more complicated when Dee, played by Tom Blyth, becomes his new cellmate.

Dee is unpredictable and quickly becomes entangled in the prison’s violent drug war and internal power struggles. What initially appears to be a new companionship instead threatens to destroy Taylor’s carefully guarded hopes of getting out.

At the centre of the story is a difficult choice between loyalty, violence and self-preservation. Taylor has everything to lose, while the increasingly dangerous situation around him leaves little room for mistakes.

David Jonsson And Tom Blyth Lead The Cast

David Jonsson takes on 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 dramatically changes Taylor’s circumstances. Blyth’s previous credits include The Gilded Age and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

The supporting cast features 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.

Wasteman marks Cal McMau’s feature directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran.

Critics Have Responded Strongly

The critical response has been particularly notable.

Rotten Tomatoes currently gives the film a 100% critics’ score based on 53 reviews, alongside an 86% audience score from more than 100 ratings. The critics’ consensus highlights Jonsson and Blyth’s performances while focusing on the forces that can encourage violence within the correctional system.

Several reviews have also drawn attention to the film’s compact 90-minute runtime and its visual approach to depicting violence.

The Upcoming praised the claustrophobic prison setting and the increasingly unpredictable relationship between Jonsson and Blyth’s characters. It also highlighted the use of cellphone footage during violent moments, which gives some scenes an immediate, unsettling quality without depending on large-scale action sequences.

Rather than treating prison simply as the backdrop for an action story, Wasteman concentrates on the rivalries and pressures surrounding Taylor as he attempts to secure a way out.

Viewers Are Feeling The Tension

Audience reactions have been similarly intense, although not universally positive.

Some viewers have praised the film’s combination of cellphone footage and widescreen cinematography, arguing that the contrast creates an immersive visual style.

Others have focused on its depiction of prison life and the cycle of violence, describing the story as a brutal look at an environment where rehabilitation can become increasingly difficult.

The emotional response has been just as strong. One viewer said the film left them feeling nervous and frightened about what might happen next, while another described it as a “crazy ride” through life behind prison walls.

There have also been criticisms. Some Rotten Tomatoes audience reviews argue that the screenplay relies too heavily on dialogue or that the story struggles to maintain their interest. That has resulted in a more mixed audience response despite the film’s perfect critics’ score.

Filmed Inside A Former Prison

The film’s prison setting is not simply a studio creation.

Wasteman was filmed at Shepton Mallet Prison, the former Somerset prison that closed in 2013 and is now open to visitors. According to Time Out, production took place there over 14 days.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 before continuing its festival run and eventually reaching UK cinemas on February 20, 2026.

Its arrival on Netflix now gives the film a significantly wider audience than it had during its limited theatrical release.

90 Minutes Of Escalating Pressure

What makes Wasteman so tense is the precarious position at the heart of its story.

Taylor is close to regaining his freedom when Dee’s arrival threatens to derail everything. As Dee becomes increasingly involved in the prison’s internal conflicts, Taylor must navigate a situation where almost every decision could put his release at risk.

With its 90-minute runtime, claustrophobic setting and two central performances from David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, Wasteman delivers a tightly focused British prison drama built around mounting pressure rather than spectacle.

For viewers looking for a dark and intense thriller, the film is now available to watch on Netflix in the UK.

Watch The Trailer

The official Wasteman trailer features David Jonsson and Tom Blyth as Taylor and Dee, offering a glimpse of the increasingly dangerous relationship at the centre of the film.