Review of Scum (2014) by Tico P — 07 Dec 2010

Scum is another one that got banned in 1979 turning it also into a Video Nasty cult classic. It starred a very young Ray Winstone, and was directed by Alan Clarke. It was made by England's BBC, and two years later aired on Channel 4. Due to its controversial theme, violent anti establishment nature, it created scandals, and was quickly removed and banned. It was a product of the Thatcher era, so no wonder ...

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS. IF IN DOUBT, TURN AWAY NOW ...

PLOT: Carlin (Ray Winstone ) is handcuffed and being transferred to an second institution/borstal after for assaulting a warder in self defense. Most inmates are young men around 14 +, doing time for petty crimes as theft, drug possession ... etc.

On arrival he is humiliated by his warders, aware of his previous offenses assuring his stay a living hell.

Carlin tries to adapt and keep a low profile, facing the fears and dangers of daily incarceration. Racism, violence, rape and brutality are to be avoided at all costs on a daily basis.

Carlin becomes acquainted with inmate Archer. Archer is a vegetarian refusing to wear boots as they are made of leather soles. He also claims being an atheist making the warders jobs a most complicated affair. Of course this is intentional, as Archer has no need making the C**ts jobs any easier, in non violent fashion.

Carlin is one day beaten up but plans his revenge. He goes to the recreation room stealing two snooker balls, inserting them in to a sock as his weapon of choice. He then goes to the head of the inmates known as the DADDY. Carlin brutally assaults the DADDY with his handy sock, and bashes him in the head several times. Satisfied Carlin yells: "Who's your Daddy now!" The warders arrive, the inmates refuse selling out Carlin and his triumph as the new Daddy is assured. Carlin tells the warder the injured inmate slipped, and is then sent to the hole.

After time in the hole, life for Carlin and those under his leadership seem to improve.

Another inmate Davis, is constantly mocked by warders and other inmates. Davis is brutally gang raped in a greenhouse, as the warders hold guard. Begging the borstal doctors for help, Davis wants to be transferred to another unit but is ignored. Later the young lad commits suicide slitting his wrists.

The inmates are infuriated as Davis's misfortune could have been prevented. A massive riot breaks loose, turning into a bloody war as several inmates are badly beaten by their captors. Two inmates are beaten to death.

Scum is as you can tell a very brutal film. Scum is full of profanity and graphic violence. Warders offensively call blacks "Nigg Noggs". Inmates refer to their captors as "Cunts" The C word is used throughout the film even more the F word in SCARFACE.

If you have a problem with English dialects like cockney, you'll have to watch this with subtitles to get the whole package.

Scum makes A CLOCKWORK ORANGE pale in comparison according to its violent nature. In a very violent scene, Carlin is confronted by a gang of 3 black inmates. The black leader asks "Where's ya tool", Carlin answers "What fu**ing tool?", he pulls out a big lead water pipe concealed is his jacket, then generously delivers several blows to the leaders face, scaring off the other two, "This Fu**ing tool!".

Scum's constant violence and humiliation leaves the viewer short of air, feeling hopeless. It is very claustrophobic and is a hard film to shake off afterwards. The gang rape in the greenhouse is one of the most brutal scenes I have ever seen in a film made for television, and I guarantee it will stick to mind for a few days after.

A film like this is a perfect example of young men being dehumanized within the system. They are treated like numbers and not human beings, SCUM.

In 1983 it was re made in America as BAD BOYS, starring Sean Penn and SHAWSHANK warden Clancey Brown. In the re make soda cans from a vending machine are used instead of snooker balls. It's not bad either but a bit dated and silly.

Scum has been released on DVD by Blue Underground and can be easily found on the net. Director Alan Clarke also directed MADE IN BRITAIN and THE FIRM (1988) starring Gary Oldman. He passed away in 1990 at the young age of 54.

If you liked CHOPPER, you'll probably like this.