Featuring king of the geezers Ray Winstone in an early starring role, Scum was originally a rejected 1977 Play for Today script, remade two years later by influential social-realist director Alan Clarke for Channel 4. And, looking back, it's not as explicit as its Mary Whitehouse, 'ban this sick filth!' reputation would suggest. Although certainly brutal, Scum doesn't feel exploitative: what violence it features feels not only suitable, but crucial. To make a statement about prison life, and about the vulnerability of youth within the system, Scum makes its desired impact and has it appear appropriate. As with all Alan Clarke's work, Scum's visual style is austere, the harsh light bulb-glow lighting the film and the dull brown, white and grey colour palette emphasising the defeat felt in this prison world. The film highlights the importance of small victories (often meal-related) in jail, as well as the heightened impact of loss. Scum's most powerful scene, though, remains the one in which Winstone's Carlin, unassuming and baby-faced, uses improvised weaponry to exact his revenge on the bullies at the top of the borstal's hierarchical chain, claiming his new place as "daddy" of the ward and turning violent bully himself in the process.
Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1
