Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Sorry, this movie sucks

Pretty Good

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Tough new inmate Carlin (superbly played with riveting intensity by Ray Winstone) gets sent to a British borstal for young offenders. Despite conflicts with both the guards and fellow inmates, Carlin soon becomes the new top con in the joint.Director Alan Clarke does a tremendous (and terrifying) job of presenting prison as an absolute claustrophobic and dehumanizing hellhole seething with rage, hatred, and violence in which the strong prey on the weak, only the fittest and most ruthless survive, and the venal staff prove to be every bit as savage and predatory as the hardened criminals. Roy Minton's hard-hitting script not only pulls no punches in its stark and unflinching addressing of such harsh and troubling issues as racism, corruption, and the abuse of power and authority, but also offers a frighteningly persuasive argument for exactly why prison reformation doesn't work due to the way it puts far too much emphasis on punishment and deprivation.The uniformly excellent acting from a top-rate cast rates as another substantial asset: Mick Ford provides several welcome and much-appreciated moments of delightfully brash humor as impudent intellectual anarchist Archer, Julian Firth contributes a heart-wrenching portrayal as the frail and vulnerable Davis (the sequence in which Davis gets rape by three boys in a greenhouse is extremely difficult to watch), Phil Daniels snivels it up nicely as weaselly loudmouth Richards, and John Judd impresses with his fierce turn as fearsome and pitiless head officer Mr. Sands. Phil Meheux's stark cinematography gives this picture a potent sense of documentary-like realism. Brutal and disturbing for sure, but still quite powerful and impossible to shake just the same.

I had heard about this British film, not just because of two of the stars that have gone on to have well known careers, but also because this film was previously originally made for television as part of Play for Today (like Abigail's Party), but it was banned due to its controversial material, so I looked forward to this film version. Basically the film is set inside a young offenders institute, and the three new arrivals at the borstal are Carlin (Ray Winstone), who is taking the blame for his brother crime of stealing scrap metal, Angel (Alrick Riley) who was arrested for carjacking, and Davis (Julian Firth) who attempted an escape from another institution. They are all given rooms, Angel and Davis in private rooms, and Carlin, who wants to keep a low profile, is put in the dormitory, he befriends eccentric and intellectual inmate Archer (Mick Ford), and he often runs into the "Daddy" who "runs" the prison Banks (John Blundell), backed up by cohorts, such as Richards (Phil Daniels), he is looking for a fight. Having watched numerous attacks, including on timid and vulnerable Davis Carlin struggles to settle into the dormitory, but it is after an unprovoked attack that he gets his revenge on Banks, with a makeshift bludgeon he beats him and his companions and replaces him as the "Daddy", later also gaining power over other wings. With his reputation and status secured life for the inmates improves, preventing the victimisation and beatings of younger and weaker prisoners, and also racist attacks, he also becomes some kind of ally to the warders, as a "natural leader" he is granted his request for a single cell, and Goodyear (John Grillo) gives him opportunity of real leadership in the borstal. Prisoner Toyne (Herbert Norville) sinks into despair having learnt from his in-laws in a letter that his wife has died, he slashes his wrists, this second suicide attempt is confirmed as his death and word is spread around the prison. Davis meanwhile is framed by Eckersley (Ray Burdis) for stealing and put on report, but things get worse when three youths gang-rape him in a potting shed, warder Sands (John Judd) witnesses it but only smiles, walks away and takes no action, Davis feeling worthless also kills himself by slashing his wrists. During the night Davis was bleeding to death he did press the button to call for help, but warder Greaves (Philip Jackson) ignored the alarm, and mass hysteria spreads in the prison following this suicide, and this comes to a head when the inmates refuse to eat their dinner, and a full scale riot is initiated by Carlin in the hall. Carlin, Archer and Toyne's friend Meakin (Alan Igbon) are seen bleeding and unconscious being dragged into solitary confinement, but when they are let out things settle, and Governor Baildon (Peter Howell) tells how the damage will be repaid, and it ends with the declaration of a prayer and minute's silence for dead prisoners Toyne and Davis. Also starring John Fowler as Woods and Nigel Humphreys as Taylor. Winstone was obviously little known at the time, he gives a great performance the authoritative prisoner who gains respect through violence, other supporting stars like Daniels and Firth do very well also, there is no storyline or plot as such, but the docudrama style and many disturbing moments, especially the vicious fights and of course brutal rape scene are powerful, it is a controversial but most watchable crime drama. Very good!

Despite being released over 30 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Scum has lost none of its punch. It is an unforgiving portrait of the British borstal system - 1 hour and 30 minutes of both physical and psychological abuse.The film examines the hierarchy of the borstal, looking at the behaviour and roles of both the officers and the inmates, questioning who's worse. This hierarchy is ruptured when Carlin (Ray Winstone) enters the borstal. Carlin claims to be looking for 'no trouble', but really he is equally or even more pugnacious and skullduggerous than the rest.Much like 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest', 'Scum' explores the infuriating frustration of injustice in 'correctional' institutions. Personally, I find few things worse than the abuse of power, whether it's within an institution, a family or any other context. I'm sure many would agree, subsequently making 'Scum' an engrossing and unpleasant watch for all.Asides from Carlin, the most significant character is Archer (Mick Ford), an intelligent, disaffected vegan who is a habitual troublemaker. Archer serves as an interesting plot device; he offers intelligent, biting monologues on the flaws of the institution, most notably to an officer's face, who retaliates by reducing their civil conversation into another officious, hostile procedure.It's Carlin's arrival, growth and ultimately tenure as 'The Daddy' that serves as the central narrative of the film, but thematically the film acts as a condemnation of the borstal system and its corrupt, vindictive employees. One may wonder if the film is hyperbolic, but the borstal system was abolished by government in 1982, replacing it instead with 'Youth Custody Centres'. This corroborates Scum's credibility.www.hawkensian.com

This is with out doubt an all time British classic,this was a really good film a young Ray shines. if you haven't seen Nill by mouth i recommend that to, sorry its short but this is my first review and i am getting used to the site rules i would give this 8 out of 10. Another good film is Gangster # one.or the Essex boy's with Sean bean. or Charlie with Luke gos.all in all this is one of the best films i have ever seen.this is real British drama at its best.if you know of any better please let me know. i would love to see them .