[FrightFest Glasgow 2026]: Jailbroken

Bryan Larkin as Joe

Having had its world premiere at this year’s FrightFest Glasgow, The Vasily Chuprina directed chamber piece Jailbroken explores the criminal justice system, racial tensions, and abuse of power all from the tiny confines of a British prison cell.

Bryan Larkin stars as Joe, a violent incarcerated criminal who, as he prepares for his final three days in prison, discovers that his ex-wife and child have been kidnapped. With only a prohibited mobile phone at his disposal, he must find out who is behind the abduction with the help of his brand new cell mate Naz, played by Armin Karima, who has been imprisoned due to being involved in an online scam. However, as well as dealing with his worst nightmare, Joe is constantly harassed at every opportunity by the brutal prison officers, who seem to want to put a stop to Joe’s impending freedom.

Whilst setting a grimy British crime thriller as a one-location piece is incredibly audacious, unfortunately Jailbroken just doesn’t have the muscle to keep audiences interested in such a chamber piece. Full of tiresome British gangster clichés, and twists that fall flat, even a potentially poignant and interesting sub-plot about racial tensions between the working class and how its in fact, those in power who seek to oppress them, is soon discarded in favour of a fatigued one dimensional plot development which includes severed fingers and “lads” banter.

Whilst the portrayal of the blossoming relationship between the characters of Joe and cellmate Naz are commendable, it just isn’t enough to save Jailbroken from being another cliché on the pile of British criminal underbelly films.

1.5 Screams out of 5