Supelice
Dreadfully Boring
Glatpoti
It is so daring, it is so ambitious, it is so thrilling and weird and pointed and powerful. I never knew where it was going.
Brenda
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
mike-1703
I found myself in Deerbolt Borstal, Barnard Castle in 1978. I had fought with a man in the summer of 1977 who later was convicted of sexual offences against children. I had fought in self defence but the Judge ruled that I had used too much force than was necessary. I was sentenced to six months to two years Borstal Training. I initially found myself in Leeds Armley Prison which was one hell of a culture shock. Within a week I witnessed my 17 year old cell mate being beaten up by a number of Young Offenders (aged over 21). After a fortnight, I was transferred to Strangeways, Manchester for an assessment of where I should spend my Borstal Training. After three weeks I was shipped out to HM Deerbolt. Although the regime was harsh, I only ever encountered two occasions of brutality from two prison officers. I was NOT a good Trainee as I was angry and felt that I had been wrongly convicted and I was awaiting my appeal against the sentence and conviction. My conviction for assault stood me in good stead as most prisoners left me well alone, and I made much use of this psychological perception. I seemed to have a bit of respect from Trainees and Screws; which I believe was due to my rebellious ways. Being reasonably articulate and left wing active seemed to be a bit of a bonus as bullies left me well alone. I hated the loss of my liberty but I know this may sound really odd, but I sort of enjoyed the experience. There was a lot to do in terms of activities. Football, Murder ball, Basket Ball, Running, and the Gym really helped my fitness levels. I worked in the kitchen as a cook and won a lot of respect. Astonishingly, I only served 8 months of my sentence despite my occasional anti establishment behaviour. In summary, I would be lying if I said Deerbolt was just like the film Scum. Most of the screws were decent people and treated me quite fairly, apart from my House Master who was a great believer in discipline. The Doctor there was not a very nice man and he turned out to be the subject of a Documentary on abuse against prison patients. I was very bitter about my conviction as I really felt I was defending myself. But in hindsight, I did go a little too far. But then again, I have no regrets about kicking a paedophile.
Leofwine_draca
SCUM isn't an easy watch. It's the filmed version of a BBC TV movie that ended up being banned by the lily-livered broadcasters for being simply too dark and violent. I've not seen the BBC version, but I can't imagine it being better than this hard-hitting, yes, classic, of a movie.It features a star-making turn from Ray Winstone as a newcomer to a violent borstal where constant threat comes from both staff and fellow inmates alike. Winstone's character is tough to love - he's as racist as the rest - but he commands respect and exudes a powerful presence, particularly in such classic scenes as the one involving a couple of pool balls.The story is constantly gritty, downbeat, and depressing. Suicide, rape, self-harm, and bullying are all constant themes. Thank goodness for Mick Ford's Archer, an intellectual inmate who brings some much-needed levity to the production. Watch out for numerous future stars in the cast, including a truly evil Phil Daniels well cast against type, P. H. Moriarty (from THE LONG GOOD Friday) and the likes of Patrick Murray (Mickey Pearce from ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES) and Danny John-Jules in more minor parts. SCUM is as powerful a condemnation of the British borstal system as it gets.
djkbee
Im a big fan of uk British films. Having missed this one i decided to finally watch it, the reason for not watching it is because i knew it would be to outdated for me, someone who did not watch this 20-30 years ago. I was right, to me it was a little boring and had a very slow pace for the first half of the film. Ray Winstone is fantastic and the acting is top notch in this from all but if your considering watching this for the first time now then expect to feel the same way as i did especially if your huge fan of British gangster films and hard hitting uk movies. Certainly worth a watch though. Just not as great as everyone makes it out to be... a little over hyped in my honest opinion.
zardoz-13
"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.
