Scum (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 1979, Scum is a drama, crime and tv movie film directed by Alan Clarke, running about 98 minutes. “In Borstal, Survival Rules” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Powerful, uncompromising drama about two boys' struggle for survival in the nightmare world of Britain's notorious Borstal Reformatory.
Who’s in it. Scum stars Ray Winstone as Carlin, Mick Ford as Archer, Julian Firth as Davis and John Blundell as Banks, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, Scum has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel and ITVX Premium and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and Sky Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Scum page.
If you liked it. Fans of Scum tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Scum (1979)?
- In GB, Scum is available to stream on BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel and BFI Player Apple TV Channel, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Scum worth watching?
- Scum holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, crime and tv movie. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Scum?
- Scum stars Ray Winstone, Mick Ford, Julian Firth, John Blundell and Phil Daniels.
- When was Scum released?
- Scum was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.