Wasteland

Fresh out of prison, a young man recruits his three closest friends to take on the local drug lord who helped land him behind bars. What begins as a tight knit plan to pull off a bold robbery soon spirals into something more complex as the quartet confronts the consequences of their choices. Each man brings a different angle to the scheme, from street smarts to stubborn pride, and the tension inside the group grows as the weight of their past and the looming menace from outside threaten to crack their solidarity. As the plan tightens, loyalties are tested and the line between friend and foe blurs, leaving them to face the cost of their desperation. The clock ticks relentlessly.

Directed by Rowan Athale, Wasteland marks his feature debut and is built from his own screenplay. This tight British thriller pairs a lean, character driven setup with a gritty urban mood, aimed at fans of tense crime dramas in theatres across screens.

The film leans into a raw sense of loyalty under pressure, exploring how friendship absorbs guilt when danger closes in. Performances from Luke Treadaway and Timothy Spall help ground a plot that moves with steady restraint, balancing claustrophobic suspense with moral ambiguity and social grit. Its atmosphere lingers after credits.

Box office details for Wasteland are limited due to its modest release. It premiered in the festival circuit and saw a limited theatrical run, translating to a small but dedicated audience footprint. The release was limited to art houses.

It drew praise for performances and taut pacing, but failed to land big awards, reflecting its indie status. Critics highlighted Athale's confident debut, the film's bleak atmosphere, and the way it probes loyalty and consequence. That reception mirrored a trend toward micro budget thrillers that rely on intimate ensembles.