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Savage

Play trailer 1:52 Poster for Savage 2019 1h 40m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Inspired by the true stories of New Zealand's street gangs across 30 years, SAVAGE follows DANNY at three defining moments in his life as he grows from a boy into the violent enforcer of a gang.
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Savage

Savage

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Critics Consensus

Savage lives up to its title with plenty of grim violence -- but dispenses its brutality in service of a well-acted and solidly effective character study.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times 01/22/2021
3/5
The triptych structure is a little fiddly, but Savage is never less than powerful. Go to Full Review
Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald 10/08/2020
3.5/5
The details of gang life are fascinating. The casting is superb: hundreds of rough-heads assembled from across New Zealand. These mean-looking buggers provide a terrifying backdrop for the power struggle. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 09/12/2020
3/5
The debutant director Sam Kelly creates a credibly hard-hitting if depressingly repetitive (fackin, fackin, fackin, fackin) milieu, with shades of Lee Tamahori's classic New Zealand drama Once Were Warriors. Go to Full Review
Carey-Ann Pawsey Orca Sound 02/12/2021
3/5
While there is plenty of violence and other things you would expect from a gang flick there is also a "softer" side here. That gives the film a realistic feel to it. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 02/04/2021
B-
There's nothing novel about this gang movie, but in its rawness it gets the brutality right and makes for a gritty watch. Go to Full Review
Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue 01/30/2021
... lacks broader insight and ultimately fails to generate sympathy for Danny as he seeks redemption. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Tyrin H Jul 21 A raw, unforgettable portrayal of a hard man unravelled by humanity. Savage is a raw and powerful film that explores how trauma, abandonment, and the search for belonging can shape a man into something unrecognisable. Jake Ryan gives a phenomenal performance as Damage, a gang enforcer whose hard exterior slowly unravels as he confronts the pain of his past. The film doesn’t glorify violence — it shows the human cost of it. Through gritty visuals, flashbacks, and subtle character shifts, Savage tells a deeply emotional story of a man built by brutality who begins to question the world he’s created. It’s one of the most honest and affecting New Zealand films I’ve seen See more Troy V Jun 30 Must see! Gritty, dark, and compelling performances. Watch it See more Gareth D @HiGarethDavies 12/28/2022 It's not good, it's not terrible - somewhere in between it meanders along with Danny the Damage and his hammer. See more 07/07/2021 New Zealand gang film. Less full-on than I expected, and doesn't have the same psychological impact as Once Were Warriors. The script is light on character development, and could have delved deeper into the cultural context of the gangs. See more 06/12/2021 This movie could be hard to watch if you are not familiar with our gang culture or New Zealand. At bit like Once were warriors (Very NZ focused). I feel this is a real deep look into the gang culture and some of the obstacles some of our people experience. An eye opener. I highly recommend watching this movie, but come in with a open mind. See more 05/22/2021 I can see this movie being hard to watch if you aren't from New Zealand or familiar with our gang culture. I personally found Savage to be a deep, hard look into some of the darkest corners of NZs past and the effects they had on young men at the time. New Zealand wasn't always Hobbits and compassionate Prime Ministers. I highly recommend this movie if you want a look at some of the hard truths of our society. See more Read all reviews
Savage

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Movie Info

Synopsis Inspired by the true stories of New Zealand's street gangs across 30 years, SAVAGE follows DANNY at three defining moments in his life as he grows from a boy into the violent enforcer of a gang.
Director
Sam Kelly
Producer
Vicky Pope
Screenwriter
Sam Kelly
Production Co
Park Road Post Production, Avalon Studios, POP Films, New Zealand Film Commission
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 29, 2020
Runtime
1h 40m
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