PLOT: Taylor is branded a “wasteman” by society, his family and even in prison. In a world of drugs, parties, gangs and violence, so far, he’s managed to keep out of trouble. However, with the arrival of new cellmate Dee, the chance to make early parole and get his life back are put in jeopardy.
REVIEW: Whether it’s The Shawshank Redemption or HBO’s Oz, the prison system can make for some truly fascinating stories. They can also be deeply depressing due to the conditions these people are forced to live. Wasteman follows two specific prisoners and their very different ways of approaching their sentences. And it’s both hopeful and depressing to see this story unfold.
David Jonsson has quickly become a must see actor with his performances in Alien: Romulus and The Long Walk. He has this uncanny ability to say so much, even with a character that says very little. That continues with his portrayal of Taylor, an inmate who tries to stay invisible in prison. The only problem is that he’s used drugs to numb the reality of his life and tries his best to not rock the boat. He’s so sheepish and you can tell his fellow inmates feel almost sorry for the guy. He’s bordering on pathetic, despite clearly being a nice guy who ended up in a bad situation.
It’s what makes his dynamic with Tom Blythe’s Dee all the more intriguing. Dee practically wants to be where he is and takes advantage of every possible situation within his confines. He has the system figured out and isn’t scared of anybody. This obviously puts a spotlight on the more lowkey Taylor, who is so close to parole. They’re really the main focus of the narrative, with Alex Hassell and Corin Silva simply being foils versus actual, developed characters. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as there’s only so much real estate and the focus needs to stay on Taylor.
At its heart, and like most prison movies, Wasteman is about a yearning for freedom. Taylor can see the end in sight after over a decade in prison, and his potential for a new life is getting shrunk by the pure chaos agent known as Dee. You almost want to yell at the screen for him to do or not do something. The tension builds so organically, that it doesn’t have to throw over the top scenarios to ramp up the drama. The world feels properly grounded, and it’s fascinating to see how much the prisoners are able to get away with. I never imagined Air Fryers being a regular thing in prisons.
Wasteman is an extremely impressive directorial debut for Cal McMau as he brings a different look at incarceration to the table. There’s more of a focus on the claustrophobic nature of living in a cell and the ways that people cope to get through it. As the runtime goes on, it feels like the walls are closing in. It goes a step further by switching between a more cinematic look and cell phone footage, helping to further engross you into the world. I’ve really enjoyed this recent trend of shifting aspect ratios and I think it further helps to tell a story visually. It helps that these sorts of videos of prison life exist in reality, so it helps to add another layer.
I feel like it’s been a decent amount of time since we’ve had a good prison movie and Wasteman certainly fits the bill. The intriguing story is propelled forward by its wonderful performances, making it easy to invest in these characters and their journeys. David Jonsson continues to be one of the most intriguing actors of his generation and brings so much to the table. His interactions with Blythe make this one a must see.
Wasteman is playing in theaters on April 17th, 2026.
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