People We Meet on Vacation star Tom Blyth explains why his new film changed his view on the prison system

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The new prison drama, Wasteman, is the first feature film directed by Cal McMau and features strong performances from rising stars David Jonsson and Tom Blyth.

Last year’s BAFTA Rising Star winner, Jonsson, plays Taylor, a prisoner who’s almost finished serving a long sentence. He’s hoping to be released early, but his chances are threatened when his new, highly unstable cellmate, Dee (played by Blyth), arrives.

This movie is a compelling, though often tough, look at what life is really like in prison. It feels authentic because the filmmakers worked closely with the charity Switchback, which helps rehabilitate former prisoners. Their collaboration ensured the film avoided typical, overused tropes and instead offered a realistic portrayal.

In an interview with TopMob at last year’s London Film Festival, Blyth shared that working on the project had “definitely” altered his perspective on the prison system.

He used to believe he understood the prison system on a deeper level, with a lot of empathy. But looking back, he admits he was surprisingly naive.

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I was really struck by what he said about preparing for the role. He did so much research, and it really informed his view on the prison system. He believes it’s fundamentally flawed – overcrowded, lacking in resources and staff, and ultimately, not achieving what it should. It’s a powerful statement, and it clearly came from a place of deep understanding.

He argued that the system doesn’t actually help people recover, but simply isolates them. He described it as putting everyone in a confined space and hoping things improve, but explained that outside problems just get worse inside, creating an intense and stressful environment.

He realized they needed a system focused on truly helping people recover, one that treated everyone with compassion and respect.

He believes funding and attention should be directed towards preventing crime before people are incarcerated. Specifically, resources need to be available earlier in life – when individuals are facing poverty, lacking quality education, and don’t have the emotional or mental health support they need.

The main point is this: if Dee had received support and resources when he was younger, he likely wouldn’t have faced the challenges he ultimately did.

Jonsson concurred with Blyth, acknowledging that the existing system presented significant challenges and wasn’t easily remedied.

He admitted the film was a challenge to make. He believes that’s what’s so special about art – it can start important discussions. If this movie both entertains audiences and gets them thinking, even if it’s a little unsettling, he’d consider it a success.

Wasteman is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20 February 2026.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona writes about movies for TopMob, covering new releases in theaters and on streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time he’s interviewed many famous actors and reviewed films of all kinds.

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2026-02-20 18:22