History Film / StarredUp

''Starred Up'' is a 2013 British prison crime drama film directed by Creator/DavidMackenzie and starring Creator/JackOConnell, Creator/BenMendelsohn and Rupert Friend.

* ChromosoneCasting: Being set in a men's prison, the cast is almost entirely male. The only female character is the very minor role of Nurse Bankford: a CreatorCameo by casting director Aisha Bywaters.

Eric (O'Connell) is young criminal that is "starred up", that is, transfered from a juvenile prison to a high security adult prison, based on his violent nature. There he meets his father, Neville (Mendelsohn), who is serving a life sentence at this prison, and Oliver (Friend), a volunteer prison therapist who convinces Eric to join his therapy group. The lives of Eric and Neville will be forever altered.

* VerbedTitle

* SpitefulSpit: When Eric seals himself in his cell, he spits at Principal Officer Scott who is looking at him through the view slot. The gob is stopped by the perspex in the slot, however.

* WardensAreEvil: Principal Officer Scott believes there is no point in attempting rehabilitate prisoners. With the aid of two warders, he delivers Eric a savage beating, and then attempts to murder him and make it look like a suicide.

* RealityHasNoSoundtrack: The film has no background music.

* MaleFullFrontalNudity: Creator/JackOConnell has two nude scenes: once when he is strip searched when he arrives at prison, and another when he is attacked in the showers.

* ThePenIsMightier: During the standoff when the warders are trying to take him to solitary, Eric grabs the prison psychologist Ashley's pen and holds it to the eye of a warder. Asheley is able to talk him down and get his pen back.

* ThePenIsMighter: During the standoff when the warders are trying to take him to solitary, Eric grabs the prison psychologist Ashley's pen and holds it to the eye of a warder. Asheley is able to talk him down and get his pen back.

* ImprovisedScrewdriver: Eric creates a SinisterShiv out of a toothbrush and a razorblade. The shiv doubles as a makeshift screwdriver, as he uses it to unscrew the light fitting in his cell in order to hide the weapon.

* PrisonsAreGynasiums: Many of the prisoners are showing working out to break the monotony of prison life. Eric's morning exercise routine includes doing push-ups on his knuckles.

Eric (O'Connell) is young criminal that is "starred up", that is, transfered from a juvenile prison to a high security adult prison, based on his violent nature. There he meets his father, Neville (Mendelsohn), who is serving a life sentence at this prison, and Oliver (Friend), a volunteer prison therapist who convinces Eric to join his therapy group. The lifes of Eric and Neville will be forever altered.