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John Judd, Julian Firth, Mick Ford, Phil Daniels, Ray Winstone

Daniels, of QUADROPHENIA fame, stars in this controversial story about brutality and violence in a modern prison for youthful offenders. The film ends with a climactic riot, protesting a "system" that...( read more  read more... ) brutalizes the keepers and the caged alike.

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91% liked it

7,428 ratings

R, 1 hr. 7 min.

Directed by: Alan Clarke

Release Date: January 1, 1977

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DVD Release Date: February 28, 2006

Stats: 686 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (686)

  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    One of the best British films ever made. Scum is the daddy!
  • SarahG1988
    June 13, 2009
    SarahG1988
    Still incredibly shocking and disturbing even 30 years on. Delivers a strong depiction of life in a borstal during the 1970's. A film that must be watched...

    More to follow in a bit
  • EarthlyAlien
    April 3, 2008
    EarthlyAlien
    Escort: "Name and number.
    Archer: 4721, Archer, sir.
    Governor: Ahh, Archer. Insolence, graffiti. Guilty?
    Archer: Misplaced trust, sir."

    ...( read more)_blank">Photobucket

    After the BBC banned his original version before it was released, Alan Clarke remade Scum two years later with much of the same cast and crew and the same script (almost). Out of anger, it seems, he made this theatrical version even more violent and shocking than the original and whilst the cinematic reconstruction may be inferior in areas, at least this version was screened. The truth was out there and for that we should be grateful.

    Opening with a scene in which Carlin (Ray Winstone) is handcuffed in a car on his way to begin his sentence at a borstal prison, Scum centres on his development from new boy to "daddy" and the camera never once steps outside the prison's perimeters. Claustrophobic and relentlessly harsh, Clarke's feature debut is a deeply distressing experience and the viewer, like this incarcerated underclass, has no escape - not for a second.

    Upon his arrival, Carlin is welcomed with a few punches to the stomach from one of the wardens. This is routine for all new inmates, it seems, but Carlin is particularly liable to a battering because his offence was hitting an officer. The fact that he was provoked makes no difference here and he soon realises that the best strategy is to shut up and keep his head down.

    He learns this from fellow inmate Archer (Mick Ford), a surprisingly well-read chap who intimidates wardens and prisoners alike through his pseudo-insane remarks and icy cold stare. They can't work him out and so he gets left alone to some extent. Carlin can't work him out either and after a few beatings from "the daddy" Pongo and his gang, he realises there is another way to survive in borstal.

    He takes matters into his own hands, or more accurately, a sock containing two snooker balls. No prize for guessing what he does next, and with the now infamous line, "I'm the daddy now!", Carlin usurps Pongo's reign over the inmates and, scarily, gains privileges from the wardens for doing so. However, with fights, rapes and suicides around every corner, he soon realises that he is as helpless over the other inmates as they are to themselves, a frightening reality that emerges in one of the most unforgettable climaxes ever seen on screen.

    The naturalistic performances from everyone involved in this difficult piece are flawless, but Winstone stands out above the rest. Put simply, no other actor could have been Carlin. A man of few words - unless they start with an 'f' - we learn more from his expressions than his words, reflecting the exact emotions we feel as powerless onlookers.

    Scum is unforgettable for all the right reasons, because you know this sort of thing was actually happening behind closed doors in 1979, England. It resembles Lord Of The Flies in its depressing depiction of human nature, but there is an actual presence of evil here, because grown men who should have known better governed these adolescents. They were the true scum, as were the powers that be at the BBC for banning the original in the first place, a rather telling occurrence, in retrospect, which goes to show just how much the truth can hurt.
  • organgrinder136
    February 2, 2008
    organgrinder136
    WHO'S THE DADDY? ray winstone is and he's also looking quite youngish and at his best! about life in a borstal in the late 70's. there's quite a handful of english actors that i couldn't even name involved. i think i even saw the guy who plays "the cat" in red dwarf for a minute ...( read more)or two. i thought mick ford was very good as archer as well. "i am happy" painted on the wall... haha! very much enjoyed viewing him winding up the guv'ner with his vegetarianism and inner-search for mecca. also some pretty disturbing scenes... but it does portray a clear message of protest. to think this was made for TV first!
  • brooklynspo
    August 9, 2007
    brooklynspo
    I'm the Daddy!
  • docthaine
    October 29, 2009
    docthaine
    BIG LAD IN THAT BED.... GOES MY THE NAME OF 'PONGO'.... KNOWS YOUR COMING'
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 17, 2009
    dukeakasmudge
    A good movie but I hate how the ending left you hanging
  • penfold0101
    September 21, 2009
    penfold0101
    Bit too Violent for my tastes! which amazed me, i love it usually!
  • awilliams100ssw
    April 11, 2009
    awilliams100ssw
    A work of pure ART! Gritty, to the point and dramatic. One of the best movies ever made.
  • Soundsofmadness
    March 28, 2009
    Soundsofmadness
    No thankyou - Not interested

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  • tiggercov
    February 5, 2007
    tiggercov
    Ray Winstone........... THE DADDY
  • fakemod
    August 29, 2006
    fakemod
    ace film, phil daniels looking gorgeous as usual! x
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Scum Trivia

  • What movie features the quote, "Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets."?  Answer »
  • Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. de niro in 1976 scorsese movie  Answer »
  • What movie does the following tagline come from? Protecting the earth from the scum of the universe.  Answer »
  • What movie does the following tagline come from? Same Planet. New Scum.  Answer »
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