--- title: "Stephen Graham supports Tut Nyuot in \"Animol\", Ashley Walters' feature directorial debut" description: "Walters co-wrote the youth-institution drama with Nick Love, and it reaches UK cinemas on October 30." url: https://tv-movies.skoop.news/animol-review-ashley-walters-tense-and-tender-feature-debut---10-22/ published: 2026-10-23T11:41:06.735816-04:00 modified: 2026-10-23T11:41:06.735816-04:00 section: "TV & Movies" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["stephen graham", "Thousand Blows", "BFI London Film Festival", "Sharon Duncan Brewster", "Ashley Walters", "Danielle Palmer", "Gini Godwin", "Troy", "Claypole", "Adolescence"] hashtags: ["#ThousandBlows", "#BFILondonFilmFestival", "#SharonDuncanBrewster", "#Film", "#movieclips"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/C%C3%A9line_Dion_en_2013_%28cropped%29.JPG/1280px-C%C3%A9line_Dion_en_2013_%28cropped%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Stephen Graham supports Tut Nyuot in "Animol", Ashley Walters' feature directorial debut > Walters co-wrote the youth-institution drama with Nick Love, and it reaches UK cinemas on October 30. Published 2026-10-23 · TV & Movies, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Ashley Walters has made his feature directorial debut with Animol, and Stephen Graham is in the cast. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) - The film portrays an institution where toxic masculinity and homophobia run rife alongside loyalty and rare glimmers of friendship. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) - Troy is the boy at the centre of the story. Mason, his initial cellmate, is a violent psychopath who stabbed his father 36 times. [[2]](https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/ashley-walters-animol-movie-review) ## A debut with a familiar face Ashley Walters has made his feature directorial debut with Animol, and Stephen Graham is in the cast. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) If you follow Graham's work, the film arrives in UK cinemas on October 30 after being reviewed at the BFI London Film Festival. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Tut Nyuot leads the young cast, with Graham supporting him. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Walters co-wrote the film with Nick Love, based on their experiences with such institutions. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Walters previously led the Channel 4 series Top Boy. [[2]](https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/ashley-walters-animol-movie-review) He and Graham have worked together before on A Thousand Blows and Adolescence. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) ## Inside the institution The film portrays an institution where toxic masculinity and homophobia run rife alongside loyalty and rare glimmers of friendship. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Open assaults in the mess hall are a regular occurrence. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) The title comes from the walls, where marks left by previously incarcerated boys read 'You are not animol'. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) ## Troy and the people around him Troy is the boy at the centre of the story. Mason, his initial cellmate, is a violent psychopath who stabbed his father 36 times. [[2]](https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/ashley-walters-animol-movie-review) Dion, a power player and drug pusher, extorts Troy into smuggling a burner phone. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) [[2]](https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/ashley-walters-animol-movie-review) Troy instantly bonds with Krystiyan, a Polish boy. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Krystian is a Polish thief, and the bond becomes a place of solace and peace for Troy. [[2]](https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/ashley-walters-animol-movie-review) [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Troy's mother Joy, played by Sharon Duncan Brewster, is his lifeline beyond the walls. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Their relationship is strained by her struggle with addiction and sobriety. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) A queer element emerges in the film as Troy's pressures escalate. [[2]](https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/ashley-walters-animol-movie-review) ## Graham as Claypole Graham plays Claypole, a well-meaning welfare officer who oversees Troy. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) The character draws on Graham's mother's experience as a social worker and is portrayed as a man finding humanity within the system. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) In a highlight scene, Claypole encourages the boys to ditch their inhibitions and be themselves through unconventional action. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) ## The craft Walters works as an actor's director, allowing cast members to flourish in long close-up takes. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Tasha Back served as director of photography and Danielle Palmer edited the film. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) Swindle composed the score and Gini Godwin was the production designer. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) ## What it means for you If you want to see Walters' first feature as director, Animol is scheduled for UK cinema release on October 30. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) If you come for Graham, he plays the welfare officer Claypole. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) If you follow the two men's partnership, the film follows A Thousand Blows and Adolescence, which they have worked on together. [[1]](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) ## Sources 1. ['Animol' review: Ashley Walters' tense and tender feature debut shines light on young offenders](https://mashable.com/article/animol-review) — mashable.com 2. [Animol | 2026 London BFI Film Festival Review](https://www.ioncinema.com/reviews/ashley-walters-animol-movie-review) — ioncinema.com Image: Photo: Yoyo76300 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C%C3%A9line_Dion_en_2013_(cropped).JPG) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/