Wasteman Review: David Jonsson Is Electric in a Prison Drama That Won’t Let You Go

Let’s be honest: prison dramas are one of my weaknesses. Sometimes they delve into hope, often they plummet straight into hopelessness, and every once in a while they manage to juggle both. 'Wasteman' is one of those rare cases. This one is built around two inmates who could not be more different—and the collision between them is where things really get interesting.

The Setup: Meet Taylor—the “Wasteman”

Our main guy is Taylor. Everyone—society, his family, his fellow prisoners—thinks he’s a “wasteman.” (That’s British for loser or no-hope case, if you’re not up on your London slang.) Here’s the twist though: even in a world swirling with drugs, gangs, violence, and the most depressing small-time prison parties you can imagine, Taylor’s managed to steer clear of fresh trouble. So far.

He’s been trying to keep his head down, quietly doing his time, keeping his distance from drama. David Jonsson (who’s been popping up in bigger and bigger films lately) plays Taylor like a guy who desperately wants to blend into the ugly beige background. There’s a sheepishness about him that’s almost pathetic, but you can tell he’s just a guy who landed on the wrong square in life. He’s numb—literally, since drugs are his coping mechanism—and if the other prisoners don’t exactly like him, they at least seem to pity him.

Then Along Comes Dee

Things get shaken up when Taylor gets a new cellmate, Dee, played by Tom Blythe. Dee is completely the opposite: this guy treats prison almost like his turf. He’s sharp, completely unbothered by authority, and plays every angle the system gives him. He’s not just surviving inside—he’s thriving. Naturally, this puts Taylor in the spotlight for the worst reasons, turning his “stay out of trouble” strategy into a chess game he didn’t ask to play, especially since he’s this close to parole.

The film really locks in on Taylor and Dee as a unit, and you can forget about deep-dive side characters. Sure, Alex Hassell and Corin Silva pop up, but mostly as obstacles or scenery rather than fleshed-out humans. That’s fine here—the movie knows whose story it’s telling.

A Prison Drama with a Reality Check

Where a lot of prison movies grab at cheap drama with riots or gangs, 'Wasteman' is more interested in the suffocating day-to-day life. It’s less about over-the-top violence and more about that constant pressure: a claustrophobic cell, the countdown to maybe (or maybe not) getting out, the way one wrong move wrecks everything.

The movie’s pacing is smart—the tension snowballs slowly and naturally. You really do want to yell at Taylor, 'Please! Don’t screw this up!' It’s stressful, but never in a cartoonish way.

Details That Ring True—and a Few Surprises

Here’s a detail that caught me off guard: apparently, air fryers are a regular feature in prison now? It’s a quirky touch that actually says a lot about how prison life adapts—something this movie nails in both small and big ways.

Stylistically, first-time director Cal McMau does some interesting stuff. He doesn’t shy away from the grim reality, but he mixes in some creative touches too: scenes will switch between a traditional cinematic look and cell phone video, mirroring the way inmates actually film life on the inside for social media these days. That shifting visual style isn’t just a gimmick—it totally sells the immersion.

'I’ve really enjoyed this recent trend of shifting aspect ratios and it further helps tell a story visually.'

This quote from the filmmakers gets it right—a little visual variety makes the tension feel even closer, even more real.

The Cast—Or Why This Works at All

• David Jonsson as Taylor – quietly heartbreaking, every bit as good here as he was in his previous standout projects
• Tom Blythe as Dee – unpredictable and a classic agent of chaos
• Alex Hassell and Corin Silva show up, but you’ll barely remember their characters’ names—this is the Taylor-and-Dee show

Jonsson, especially, can do so much with a single glance that you stick with Taylor even when he’s making poor decisions. His back-and-forth with Blythe’s Dee is what gives the movie its edge—watching these two play off each other is half the fun (and stress).

The Verdict: Yeah, It’s Worth Your Time

'Wasteman' isn’t just another prison movie to throw on the pile. It’s tense, grounded, and strangely hopeful—without shying away from the bleakness of prison life. The visual tricks actually serve the story, and the acting is so good you’ll invest in these flawed, desperate people whether you want to or not.

And if you’re itching for something in the genre that actually feels fresh and personal? You could do way worse than 'Wasteman.'

Catch it in theaters starting April 17, 2026.