REVIEW: 'Wasteman' Is A Visceral, Brutal Exploration Of Toxic Masculinity Inside A British Prison

This review contains minor spoilers for 'Wasteman.'

Wasteman © Lionsgate

David Jonsson, this year's BAFTA rising star, continues to show the world why he's an actor that people should be keeping their eyes on. Coming fresh off The Long Walk, Jonsson enters Cal McMau's directorial feature debut to deliver yet another outstanding performance as he fights with the social hierarchy of prison while attempting to stay on good behaviour to finally meet his estranged son. Alongside David Jonsson is Tom Blyth, famously known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, where he played Coriolanus Snow, a character without any good in his body. Now Blyth brings a demonic energy to his role as Dee, a new inmate who begins to cause trouble for everyone around him.

In Cal McMau's debut movie, Wasteman, we witness Taylor (David Jonsson) be given a chance to be released early on good behaviour, but unfortunately for him, the psychopathic Dee has entered the prison and become his cellmate, making it his goal to be top of the social hierarchy. As Taylor gets close to his release date, Dee gets closer to ruining everything Taylor has worked so hard for.

It's the performances from co-stars David Jonsson and Tom Blyth that elevate Wasteman's intensity and grittiness. Blyth finds something hidden deep within himself to play the violent and unhinged Dee that won't allow anything to get in his way. It's his most frightening role yet, and his performance combined with the uncomfortable close-ups that cinematographer Lorenzo Levrini provides creates a tense space that makes you feel like you're involved with something that you shouldn't be witnessing. David Jonsson highlights his range as he plays a character who's the complete opposite of Dee; he's timid, displays an array of emotions and comes across as the voice of reason in this prison.

David Jonsson as Taylor and Tom Blythe as Dee in Wasteman © Lionsgate

Jonsson and Blyth clash with their personalities as Taylor becomes a character that gets lost in the power dynamic, fearing Dee not because his terrifying attitude feels like a threat but simply because Dee is a loose cannon who will ruin Taylor's chances at becoming free and getting to see his estranged son. Dee can sometimes come across as manipulative, as he helps Taylor with getting into contact with his son, gaining that trust from him, while also retaining authority. It's these opposite energies that keep the movie alive and have you struggling to control your heartbeat through the latter half of the film.

Wasteman was a movie that Cal McMau has been trying to bring to life since 2017, with it also being David Jonsson's first audition. McMau went on to direct countless music videos and finally got the chance to return and direct Wasteman with a now experienced David Jonsson, who came off the back of projects such as Rye Lane, Alien: Romulus and Industry.

McMau challenges himself with his debut feature movie by creating a tense experience in an extremely tight 90 minutes. He doesn’t shy away from the unrelenting brutality that takes place in prison, which he elevates by working with Lorenzo to create phone footage that not only brings the prison to life with its rampant energy but also adds to Wasteman’s grittiness. McMau’s direction is flawless for his first time creating a feature film, as he captures the audience with the sheer ruthlessness and fear that it brings.

With prison, it’s their goal to rehabilitate their prisoners, and we see that slightly with Taylor in his chef job and also working as the local barber. We also come to learn that Taylor’s drug addiction comes from within the prison, as it has only worsened since being sentenced. Wasteman delves into how prisons can become enablers of our worst addictions, failing to help people when they need them most, and it highlights it most when Taylor struggles to live his life around Dee’s unpredictable rage that controls him.

Wasteman is one of the London Film Festival’s best and an outright phenomenal British movie that highlights the unrelenting horrors that take place within prison. Tom Blyth and David Jonsson continue proving to audiences why they’re actors worth watching, improving their craft with each performance and elevating what is an intense, gripping thriller that doesn’t let go of you through its 90-minute runtime, which McMau uses to its full effect.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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Wasteman © Lionsgate

About Wasteman

Premiere Date:  February 20, 2026

Director: Cal McMau

Producers: Sophia Gibber, Myles Payne, Philip Barantini, Samantha Beddoe, David Jonsson

Writer: Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran

Cast: David Jonsson, Tom Blyth, Alex Hassell, Corin Silva, Neil Linpow, Layton Blake, Cole Martin

Production: Agile Films

Distribution: Lionsgate

Synopsis: Parolee Taylor's hopes for a fresh start are jeopardized by cellmate Dee's arrival. As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack tests their bond, forcing Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and his own chances at freedom.