Scum (1980)

So much average

Sadly Over-hyped

Excellent but underrated film

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I saw way better prison movies then Scum so that's why I gave it only a five star rating. The dialogs are kind of cliché and boring. It's again all about the tough guards bullying the juvenile prisoners. The whole movie is just screaming and bullying. Some young scum intimidate the other inmates because I guess they are power hungry, dumb, and have nothing better to do in their pathetic life. It's all about being "The daddy" of the prison. The rules are absolutely ridiculous and too severe. It's not like that you will prepare young delinquents to fit in society. On the contrary that's how you create even more disturbed psychopaths. The actors were not that bad. It's just the movie that is not good enough to be remembered. To me it's rating here on IMDb is way too high.

'Scum' (1979) may now be over 30 years old, but its power, notoriety and shock factor certainly hasn't dwindled! Nor has its wide spread appeal. Films like 'Scum' are just timeless in their power! This totally harrowing, often stomach-churning drama, is a commendably daring (but then again its not really daring when you are merely depicting the truth - no matter how grim or appalling) and unflinching look at life inside a boys juvenile centre (otherwise known as borstal).Extremely edgy, startlingly powerful and shocking, 'Scum' depicts brutal violence, racial prejudice, homeosexuality and sexual abuse in an unflinching way that hits you right between the eyes! Not comfortable, easy viewing by any means. At times, you could easily forget your watching what is a superbly made drama, and think you are viewing a fly-on-the-wall documentary as it has that in-your-face, stark effect! You really will not be able to take your eyes off this stuff - if you enjoy being kept on the edge of your seat and being continually shocked then 'Scum' is definitely the film for you! The brutally stark realism in Ray Minton's screenplay is richly complemented by razor-sharp direction from the innovative, award-winning Alan Clarke (one of his few feature films as he mostly worked in television).The ever-excellent Ray Winstone excels in the lead role as tough-boy Carlin. The role seems as though it was tailor made for him! Watching Ray Winstone stride confidently with that air of authority through the grim corridors of the borstal with that famous "Don't f*** with me" look on his face that Ray is renowned and legendary for, you do get the immediate impression that he didn't have to do much acting to convince you that he's not a man to be messed with! Ray breezes into the role naturally, though on the audio commentary of the DVD he credits this to director Alan Clarke.Carlin (Ray Winstone) had ended up in a juvenile centre after being convicted of petty theft. He had been transferred to the borstal after defending himself against a vicious prison officer that had been kicking and beating the living daylights out of him! At first Carlin keeps his head down, wanting to serve his time as quickly and quietly as possible. Unfortunately the "daddy" on the wing has other ideas for Carlin. During one night in the crowded dormitory, the "daddy" and his gang of no-hope bullies give him a brutal beating. Carlin is visibly bruised all over and for this he ends up on a charge for fighting and serves 3 days in an isolation block! Having had plenty of time to brood whilst locked away, Carlin soon realises its time to assert himself in order to survive.Some of the most violent moments in 'Scum' occur during recreation period, when Carlin stuffs a few snooker balls into a sock. With it tightly clenched in his fists, Carlin strides casually over to Richards (played by the superb Phil Daniels) and at full force, literally wraps it around Richards face and head, then gives him a good few kicks where it hurts! Casually again, Carlin strides off, places the snooker balls back on the table , glances at the bemused prisoners playing snooker and calmly says "well, carry on then" and then goes and hunts down the "daddy". He is found in the washroom, washing his face. Carlin wastes no time and grips hold of the so-called "daddy" by his head and continually smashes his face into the sink, cutting half his face open. It is then that Carlin utters those legendary words most associated with the film: "I'm the f***** daddy round here now!". Yes, it's all nasty, stuff yet riveting at the same time. It's due to Alan Clarke's astute, street-smart direction that gives the film that docudrama-like sharp edge.The excellent Phil Daniels is particularly scary and menacing as the notorious bully, Richards, while Mick Ford is endearing as Archie. The refined but troublesome Archie thoroughly enjoys rebelling against all rules of the system and making life as difficult as possible for the corrupt, violent prison officers. Claiming to be a vegetarian (though he really isn't!) he refuses point blank to wear any leather shoes, having to have plastic shoes tailor-made for him, much to his amusement and their annoyance, refuses to attend chapel on a Sunday, much to the frustration of the deeply religious governor and is something of a philosopher (something else he enjoys annoying the "screws" with). A sensitive side to the character is shown in a touching scene where he takes the time to read to an illiterate boy all of his parents letters to him. Its a role Mick Ford plays with conviction, sensitivity and intelligence.In a more gentle role is Julian firth Davis as the niaeve, vulnerable Alrick Riley, who has "victim" written across his face. He quickly becomes an easy target for the bullies, though is taken under the wing of Carlin. It has to be said that Julian Firth Davis is involved in what is easily the most harrowing scene of "Scum" when he is sexually abused and assaulted by 3 other prisoners. And the climatic riot scene is all visually powerful stuff!"Scum" is outstanding in its direction, acting and screenplay and firmly stands a good head and shoulders over many British films today.In fact "Scum" is unparalleled! Its a film that immediately draws you in, not letting your attention lapse until the credits roll. Over 30 years on, it stands as a riveting, uncompromising look at life inside a borstal and is truly an out and out masterpiece.

Scum was and still is a very controversial film when it was first made back in 1977, being banned from broadcast by the BBC and re-made by director Alan Clarke, turning it into a cinema release in 1979. This brutal flick is now considered a classic and was Ray Winstone's breakout role.Carlin (Winstone) is a young man transferred to a tough borstal (a youth prison) after assaulting a guard and is targeted by the wardens and the prison hard-nut/Daddy Banks (John Blundell), making him an example. Despite Carlin wanting to keep his head down, he is forced to take action and seize the role of the Daddy to protect himself and the younger prisoners from Banks and his cronies.While the story of Carlin's rise in the borstal is perfectly fine, what makes Scum so special and controversial was showing the wider picture of this horrific world. The depiction of violence, the physical and emotional abuse, the racism and cruelty of the regime is still shocking today, as it shows how broken the system was. There are some horrific sequences as Carlin brutally beats his rivals, a few extremely gruesome suicide attempts and a realistic, hard-to-watch gang rape scene of a teenage boy. Scum is a film that requires a strong stomach to view as Clarke shows the full horrors of violence. Blood is spilled and Clarke uses a deliberately minimalistic approach, giving Scum a more of a voyeuristic look, through its camera work and lack of music throughout the film to amplify the realism.The character of Arthur played Mick Ford serves as the critical voice of the borstal system. Arthur rebels using his intelligence and being as awkward possible, stating he is a vegetarian, refusing to wear leather shoes even in the cold winter and riles the Christian governor by looking at Atheism, Sikhism and Islam as alternative beliefs. Arthur sets out to use the rules of the system against it and seen arguing with the prison officials, questioning the treatment of prisoners particularly because of their ages and the idea of prison and whether it did any good at reforming people. A compelling scene is when Arthur is debating the rights and wrongs of incarceration with a senior prison guard as he avoids going to chapel and questions well why he takes such as a antagonistic approach with the authorities.Clarke has a reputation for hard-hitting, gritty stories with realistic violence and a political edge. Scum is the best example of this, as he vents his anger at a horrible system that fortunately no longer exists. As well as the exploration of racism, violence and bullying, Scum also looks at the dehumanisation effects on young people in this prison institution and small issues like some of the characters being unable to read, which could interpreted as either as an indictment of the wider education, that the characters may have a undiagnosed learning disability like dyslexia or simply criticising the education in the borstals as they are in a regime of hard-labour.Carlin is still of Winstone's most iconic roles, even after his long career. It is one of his best performed roles, cementing early on his hard-man image. Carlin himself is an interesting character because he is someone who uses his new found power to protect the weaker prisoners and advice them when he can, but he is still not above using racist language when taking on one of his rivals.Scum has a strong cast of young actors for its time, with Ford and Julian Firth being particular highlights in their roles, playing two very different characters. Firth is especially memorial because of his emotional performance. Actors like Phil Daniels and Patrick Murray appear in smaller roles and both ended up having successful careers on British Television, appearing in Eastenders and Only Fouls and Horses respectively.Scum is a raw, powerful drama that still has the ability to shock after 35 years since its release. It is a movie deserving of its cult status and is one of Clarke's and Winstone's best pictures.Please visit www.entertainmentfuse.com

"Scum" reminded me in some ways of the tough Sidney Lumet World War II prison thriller "The Hill" with Sean Connery. This toxic view of a contemporary British boy's reformatory is as unpleasant as it is engrossing. Ray Winstone plays the new kid on the block who enters the prison and eventually finds himself forced to rise to the top of the prison population as a so-called "daddy." When the guards and governor aren't shouting at the adolescents to "double-quick march," the strong inmates are preying on the weak. The guards are relentless sadistic. Some of the characters are standard types for this kind of expose melodrama. The inmates shake each other down for money and our protagonist finds himself beaten up by the inmate big wigs. The administration follows and tries to take advantage of our hero's battered looks to punish him. Director Alan Clarke and scenarist Ray Minton don't pull any punches. Although it was released in 1979, "Scum" does contain some potentially offensive scenes, such as a rape in a green house when two inmates assault another. The administration is a merciless bunch of stuff-shirt dastards who have a free hand to inflict as much punishment on the boys as they see fit. The abrupt ending is disheartening. The performances are riveting and the environment looks authentic. Approach with caution.