Title: David Jonsson and Tom Blyth Shine in Powerful Prison Drama Directed by Cal McMau

David Jonsson and Tom Blyth deliver powerful performances as two prisoners navigating a tense relationship of power and protection in Cal McMau’s British prison drama ‘Wasteman’.

The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, follows Taylor, a prison cook serving time for manslaughter after accidentally killing a teenager while selling drugs to support his estranged son. Taylor, played by David Jonsson, has been incarcerated for 13 years and is eligible for early release if he maintains good behaviour. His hopes for parole are complicated when he is assigned a new cellmate, Dee, portrayed by Tom Blyth.

Dee’s arrival disrupts the existing prison dynamics as he begins selling drugs, encroaching on the territory of fellow inmates Gaz and Paul, from whom Taylor had previously purchased drugs to fuel his own addiction. Despite this, Taylor and Dee form an unexpected bond, with Taylor opening up about the circumstances that led to his incarceration. Dee assists Taylor in contacting his 14-year-old son, Adam, and even sends the boy a pair of expensive trainers as a gift from Taylor.

The fragile relationship between Taylor and Dee is tested when Gaz and Paul, frustrated by Dee’s interference in their drug trade, launch a violent attack that leaves Dee unconscious. Taylor stands by helplessly during the assault, forced to choose between protecting his new cellmate and safeguarding his own chances for parole.

‘Wasteman’ was directed by Cal McMau from a screenplay by Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran. The film stars David Jonsson and Tom Blyth in the lead roles, with cinematography by Lorenzo Levrini, editing by James A. Demetriou, and music by Forest Swords. Produced by Agile Films and distributed by Lionsgate, the 90-minute British prison drama was released in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2026, following its festival premiere.

The film grossed approximately $1 million at the box office and has been noted for showcasing the intense dramatic range of David Jonsson, who first auditioned for the project in 2017 shortly after graduating from drama school. Tom Blyth’s portrayal of Dee adds complexity to the narrative as a character whose motivations shift between camaraderie and self-interest within the confined world of the prison.