Wasteman

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Wasteman

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1h 30m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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100%

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40 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Taylor is branded a "wasteman" by society, his family and in prison. In a world of parties, gangs and violence, he's managed to keep out of trouble. However, with the arrival of chaotic cellmate Dee, the chance to make early parole and get his life back are put in jeopardy.

Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

1d

3.5/4

It's a genre piece with tragic weight.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

3d

3/4

Through the jangly use of cellphone cameras capturing violence on the cellblock and a winnowed down running time, “Wasteman” doesn’t waste one second of a film time. It certainly has a surplus of talent in front of and behind the camera.

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Marshall Shaffer

Slant Magazine

3d

3/4

Cal McMau’s Wasteman illustrates why a powerful paradox about prisons makes them such a popular staging ground for psychodramas.

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Andrew Parker

The Gate

1d

8/10

It’s impressive what McMau is able to accomplish behind the camera in such a small space but it’s the chance to watch a pair of continually evolving performers in the lead roles that makes Wasteman so electrifying.

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Christian Gallichio

The Playlist

1d

B+

While “Wasteman” doesn’t break any new narrative ground, it is nevertheless a calculated and enticing debut from a director to watch, in addition to featuring a performance from an actor already on the rise.

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

1d

Although the screenplay lacks contextual depth, the volatile chemistry between the two leads helps to sustain tension and fuel a rooting interest.

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nilufer E

@Nilicim 17h

A prison drama that somehow lacks tension, grit, and emotional pull. Wasteman should’ve been right up my alley, but it ends up feeling hollow and forgettable.

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Dale R

@Dalezie 21h

I doubt that this very violent and unsettling film will have mainstream appeal, but I appreciate that people make these kinds of movies. For me, the film had an underlying message to highlight the perils of addiction and the suffering inherent in overcoming it. The oppressive feeling running throughout the movie kept me gripped and the unpredictable climax was memorable long after the credits rolled. The pulsating soundtrack is also very fitting.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 1d

Success in 1.5 hours.

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Cal McMau

Director

David Jonsson

Taylor

Tom Blyth

Dee

Alex Hassell

Paul

Corin Silva

Gaz

Paul Hilton

Browning

Wasteman: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Taylor is branded a "wasteman" by society, his family and in prison. In a world of parties, gangs and violence, he's managed to keep out of trouble. However, with the arrival of chaotic cellmate Dee, the chance to make early parole and get his life back are put in jeopardy.

Director: Cal McMau
Producer: Sophia Gibber, Myles Payne
Screenwriter: Hunter Andrews, Eoin Doran, Hunter Andrews, Eoin Doran
Distributor: Vertigo Releasing / Sunrise Films
Production Co: Agile Films
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 17, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 30m