Scum (1979)

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Avg Rating: 3.9 / 5. Voted: 28

No one cared thus far. Do you?

AKA:
Directed by: Alan Clarke
Starring: Ray Winstone (Carlin), Mick Ford (Archer), Peter Howell (Governor)
Country: UK, European Cinema
Language: English (English subs)
Runtime: 01:36:54
Genres: Teensploitation, Racism, Rape-Men

Plot – Spoilers:
Three teenagers arrive at a notorious borstal run by a rabidly Christian Governor and his nasty staff. One of the teens Carlin gets special attention from the wardens as he was sent there for assaulting a warden at his previous borstal.

Carlin soon has to fight established gangs whose leaders see him as a threat to their Daddy status. There’s also the constant threat of violence from the brutal and sadistic wardens. He makes a friend in Archer, whose sole goal is to piss the authorities off while walking the fine edges of the rule books.

Scum is a grim portrayal of the flawed youth detention system in Britain and wasn’t allowed to be broadcast on television for several years.

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Tim
Tim
November 9, 2019 3:46 am

Well there’s my last shred of optimism and goodwill towards human establishments gone down the toilet.

Mike Ehrmantraut
Mike Ehrmantraut
August 23, 2020 10:53 pm

Another gem from the mostly unknown. Great job, guys….

Netfix who?

jonathan crumb
jonathan crumb
December 28, 2020 3:10 am

amazing

pain
pain
December 29, 2020 1:28 am

9/10

Lotty Da
Lotty Da
February 10, 2021 7:42 am

yeah… another great film here on effedup. not thrilled with the end. I’m thinking how is this going to end, and then that was the end… leaves it up to your imagination I guess. still a powerful movie, especially given the year. I loved it, and thanks alot for the subtitles, us hard of hearing need them to enjoy the movie.

Vic
Vic
March 13, 2021 8:33 pm

Ray Winstone’s first film. It’s really good. You should watch it. I’ve seen it a few times.

Hom
Hom
November 29, 2021 3:52 am

I had never heard of this film before watching it. Excellent performances all around. This juvenile detention center theme preceded Sean Penn’s star -vehicle “Bad Boys” (the one without Will Smith) by three years.

Old Mother Hubbard
Old Mother Hubbard
March 4, 2023 11:55 am

Brutal stuff. Good film. There is a film made before this one with Ray Winstone that is the exact same story with a few different actors but I can’t remember the name of it. There is another film called “Dog Pound” (2010) with all different actors but the same story. All three are worth watching.