Savages
2012 · Directed by Oliver Stone
Original language: English
- crime
- drama
- thriller
The story
Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel that kidnapped their shared girlfriend.
What it’s like
Saturated Southern California sunshine gives way to sweaty, shadowed Mexican interiors, with Oliver Stone's restless handheld camera darting through pool parties, hillside grow rooms and bloodied border roads. Colour is hot and oversaturated, with a glossy digital sheen, quick cuts, split-screen flourishes and freeze-frames, and the sound is a loud, pulsing mix of rock and electronic beats punctuated by gunfire and sudden silence. The vibe is sun-bleached and feverish, with a cool-headed cynicism underneath the excess. The pacing is fast and relentless, and the intensity is high: frequent, graphic gunfights, torture and cruelty, including a notoriously brutal sequence of violence, with stylised but unflinching gore and a thread of sexual content. The emotional register stays hard-edged and detached, following two lovers-turned-partners whose loyalty is tested as they grow more ruthless. Best for viewers who want a loud, stylish, violent crime thriller on a late night, not something gentle or comforting.
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