FilmsScumLike this

Films like Scum.

Scum (1979) reads as Heavy, kinetic, extreme drama / borstal, grounded in texture. Nihilistic, intimate, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Pixote (1980) poster
1. Pixote1980

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Wall (1983) poster
2. The Wall1983

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Get Carter (1971) poster
3. Get Carter1971

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

School on Fire (1988) poster
4. School on Fire1988

Keeps the heightened unreality and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

10 Rillington Place (1971) poster
5. 10 Rillington Place1971

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Ardh Satya (1983) poster
6. Ardh Satya1983

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Menace II Society (1993) poster
7. Menace II Society1993

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Romper Stomper (1992) poster
8. Romper Stomper1992

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Kisapmata (1981) poster
9. Kisapmata1981

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Lion's Den (1988) poster
10. The Lion's Den1988

Keeps the heightened unreality and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Hill (1965) poster
11. The Hill1965

Keeps the heightened unreality and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Witchfinder General (1968) poster
12. Witchfinder General1968

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are Scum’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →