Starred Up

A raw, claustrophobic plunge into prison violence and fragile masculinity, gripping and bruising, with glimmers of tenderness.

Directed by

David Mackenzie

Genres

Drama

Starring

Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend

Tagline

We're all different on the inside.

Overview

19-year-old Eric, arrogant and ultra-violent, is prematurely transferred to the same adult prison facility as his estranged father. As his explosive temper quickly finds him enemies in both prison authorities and fellow inmates — and his already volatile relationship with his father is pushed past breaking point — Eric is approached by a volunteer psychotherapist, who runs an anger management group for prisoners. Torn between gang politics, prison corruption, and a glimmer of something better, Eric finds himself in a fight for his own life, unsure if his own father is there to protect him or join in punishing him.

How it feels

Dark, tense, bleak and earnest. Relentless and needs your attention.

About

Violence, family, identity, survival

Content

Strong violence and language. Mild gore and sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)