Rent Starred Up (2013)

Brilliant UK Prison movie - Starred Up review by PV

This is a tough watch sometimes - very violent.

BUT very authentic characters incl black characters - the language is spot on.

Not sure if the ending would have happened.

But prisons are full of abuses, bullying, drugs as we all know.

A great film.

Violent but worth watching for the acting alone. - Starred Up review by CP Customer

Although I agree quite strongly with the earlier reviewer, I felt he missed the point of the film in that Eric ended up in the same prison as his father and he had inherited the same violent characteristics as his father who could not tolerate any type of reasoning - violence begets violence. In the end when his father saves his life as the prison staff, including a corrupt deputy governer, set up their abuse of him as a suicide does the father show any sign of love and affection for his son. The father is then removed to another prison and there is quite a touching scene where they have to part company, with Eric returning to the prison and you wonder what the future holds for him, probably back and forth into prison.

Shocking but without depth - Starred Up review by DG

I decided to watch this as it had received good reviews and this tied with its obvious connection with Scum was enough for me. It concerns the situation of an inmate that has been moved from a young offenders to an adult prison, hence the title to be starred up. To put it mildly he is a very violent character and seems hell bent on destroying everything in his path. As we discover Eric has grown up in care homes and has been abused from a young age. So although he is a nasty piece of work he is merely a victim trying to make sense of the world.

Although Eric's character is front and centre at all times and hops from one violent situation to another there is never really enough depth of character to have any real feelings towards him.

It would seem that the film makers as much as the prison staff struggle to know what to do with him. Watch if you like watching very violent films but avoid if would like more depth of character. 3/5