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Poster for Scum

Scum

1979 · 96 min

A grim, unflinching look at institutional brutality that feels raw and claustrophobic, with moments of tense confrontation and a pervasive sense of hopelessness.

Tagline
In Borstal, survival rules!
Overview
Carlin is a new reform school inmate with a reputation as a hard case. The authorities encourage gang leader Pongo to humble Carlin, but Carlin overtakes Pongo as Daddy of the ward. The guards institute a reign of terror and neglect, with Carlin emerging as an unlikely leader.

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Stream in the UK
  • BFI Player
  • ITVX Premium
More options Data from JustWatch
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • bleakstrength 3 of 3
  • tensestrength 3 of 3
  • darkstrength 3 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • violence
  • power
  • survival
  • corruption
  • justice
Places
  • prison
Era
period
Audience
adult
Form
  • ensemble
Content intensity
  • Gore mild
  • Language strong
  • Violence strong
  • Sex strong
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action5
Horror4
Humour2
Realism9
Romance0
Tension8
Darkness9
Complexity6
Emotional weight9

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Where to watch in the UK

Stream
  • BFI Player
  • ITVX Premium
Free
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Rent or buy
  • Apple TV Store
  • Amazon Video
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  • YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres
drama, crime
Directed by
Alan Clarke
Written by
Roy Minton
Starring
Ray Winstone, Mick Ford, Julian Firth, John Blundell, Phil Daniels, John Judd, Philip Jackson, Peter Howell
Cinematography
Phil Meheux
Runtime
96 min
Country
United Kingdom
Languages
English

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