Felon
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh
- crime
- drama
- thriller
- action
The story
A family man convicted of killing an intruder must cope with life afterward in the violent penal system.
What it’s like
Grim, grey and claustrophobic, with the institutional fluorescence of a county jail and the washed-out cool of courtroom wood and steel. Felon leans on tight handheld framing inside cramped cells and corridors, where the camera stays close to faces and bodies, and it cuts to brief, disorienting bursts of chaos when the violence erupts. Outdoor scenes are rare and sparse, so the sky and open air feel like a relief rather than a backdrop. The score is restrained, mostly low drones and tense silences that let footsteps, metal doors and shouted orders carry the weight. Its vibe is bleak, hardened and tense, best suited to a late night when you want a sober, grounded story rather than comfort. Intensity is high: frequent fights and stabbings, a riot with tear gas, neo-Nazi gang menace, and a murder at the outset, all depicted with raw, brutal immediacy and little gore for its own sake. Expect sustained dread and cruelty rather than relief. It is for viewers who want serious, morally weighty prison drama and can tolerate sustained brutality.
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