Inside Digital, DVD and Blu-ray Review

4 star raw and unflinching prison drama.

Inside is a 2025 Australian crime drama, written and directed by Charles Williams in his superbly impressive feature directorial debut.

It is available to own in the UK on Digital, DVD and Blu-ray from 11th August 2025 courtesy of Icon Film Distribution.

“It’s like a story. How you feel about everything that happened. Hpw you’ve changed. How you’re sorry. What you could have done different.”

Born in prison and believing he was destined to be bad, Mel Blight (Vincent Miller – Plum (TV Mini Series)) is a young convict being transferred from juvenile to adult prison. Upon arrival, he is told that he must write a letter to his victim, a way to help convince the parole board (who he is due to face in a year) that he is fit for parole, as well as a way to help himself come to terms with his crime.

He is also told he will be sharing a cell with notorious criminal Mark Shepard (Cosmo Jarvis – Warfare, Calm With Horses), in for a maximum sentence. The two form an uneasy alliance, as Mel plays the keyboard and Mark wants to hold a sermon, to preach word of his salvation to his fellow inmates. Mel agrees to accompany him.

He also meets Warren (Guy Pearce – The Seventh Day, Results), a long term inmate who is nearly up for parole. He is in a lot of gambling debt, but an opportunity has arisen, there is a bounty out on Shepard for fifty grand which would solve all his problems. Mel will soon find that as well as fighting his own demons, he has walked right into the middle of a world of problems.

“Hey Mel, gotta a keyboard with your name on it. It’s got loads more black and white buttons.”

Inside is a brilliant film, brutal, raw and unafraid to look human nature right in the face. Rather than your average prison drama, it is more an exploration of guilt, sin and the question of whether someone can rise above their birth and upbringing. It also takes a good hard look at culpability and some of the ways people find to avoid it, as well as small snatched moments of redemption.

The inter-character relationships are excellently written and acted, with a truly astonishing performance from Cosmo Jarvis, as well as thoroughly believable turns from both Guy Pearce and newcomer Vincent Miller.

Although quite slow going, the measured pace helps with getting to know the characters and makes the ending more impactful when it arrives. Well written and directed, this one won’t be for everyone, but if you like a real and heart-rending human story it’s certainly well worth adding to your collection.

“You have to hear the spirit yourself. Think back on what brought you here. Try to remember the moment that you decided to choose…the path you took.”