Inside is not a comfortable prison film.
There are no clever escape plans, glamorous criminals or tough blokes delivering cool speeches before taking over the yard.
Mostly, there are damaged people stuck in rooms with other damaged people.
That felt much closer to the conversations I hear during the weekly literacy sessions at the correctional centre. Half the work is reading and writing. The other half is convincing grown men that asking for help doesnt make them stupid.
A Young Man Between Two Fathers
Mel has just been transferred from juvenile detention into an adult prison. Once inside, he becomes caught between two older inmates: Mark Shepard, one of the country’s most hated criminals, and Warren Murfett, a worn-down man approaching parole. Both begin acting like distorted father figures in Mel’s life.
Vincent Miller is excellent as Mel.
He barely needs to speak for you to understand how alert he is. He studies every room, every person and every possible threat before moving.
Guy Pearce plays Warren as a bloke who is tired before he even gets out of bed. He wants parole, but freedom almost seems more frightening to him than prison.
Cosmo Jarvis is quieter and more unsettling as Shepard. The film doesnt turn him into a cartoon monster. That makes him worse.
It Doesnt Chase Easy Drama
There is violence, but the film isnt constantly looking for excuses to start a fight.
The tension comes from power, loneliness and people trying to use each other while pretending they care.
That’s a harder thing to show, and the movie handles it bloody well.
Some viewers may find the pace slow. I didnt. Prison life involves a lot of waiting, repetition and watching the same walls every day. The film lets you feel a bit of that without becoming dull.
A few scenes hit especially hard because nobody says what they’re really thinking. Men talk about food, television or release dates when the actual conversation is about fear.
Regional Mirror Information
The site now has a version intended specifically for people connecting from Australia. You can find it through Soap2day for Australian users.
I came across the address after a bloke in the computer room mentioned that the local mirror had appeared. He was meant to be working on a résumé, but at least the distraction produced something useful.
Final Verdict
Inside gets 9 out of 10.
It’s one of the strongest Australian dramas I’ve watched in ages. The performances feel natural, the prison doesnt look like a movie set and the story refuses to offer easy answers about guilt or redemption.
Not a fun watch.
A very good one, though.
And definately not something to put on when you’re after light entertainment with dinner.