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For British squaddie turned prison guard Sam Norwood (James D’Arcy), policing the wings at fictional HMP Romwell is a case of “same shit, different uniform”.

But with only one officer for every 35 cons, it’s no surprise when things kick off in a thriller which begins promisingly before descending into a slough of old lag clichés.

The central argument in Reg Traviss’ overcooked drama is that our jails are so full of scum we need corrupt headcases to control them.

The reactionary result should please Daily Mail readers, if not fans of credible characters and non-risible plotting.

Neil Smith is a freelance film critic and writer who contributes regularly to Heat, SFX and Screen International. He's a long-time member of the London Film Critics’ Circle and was a contributing editor at Total Film for many years.