Savage

Director - Emir Skalonja (The Plague, Jericho)
Starring - Jacob Hodgson (Jericho), John Karyus (Evil Bong 420, Frankie in Blunderland), and Fattie King (The Undead, Confessions of a Homicidal Prostitute)
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Horror/Drama
Tagline - "In the new savage world survival is the only thing that matters"
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I review a movie from Emir Skalonja I find it difficult not to mention how dedicated to the genre this young man is.  The second I hear he has wrapped on a new feature or short I immediately get word that a second production has finished.  Along with that he is a noted author with several works available.  When it comes to horror there is few that has the passion and drive as Emir.  Just a few weeks ago Emir reached out to me to check out his feature Jericho and short Wretched Cunt.  I thought it would be some time before I heard from Emir again but by god he contact me just a few days ago to check out a whole new feature, Savage.  With each film I see Emir grow and Savage is by far his best film to date.

     The film takes place in the near future where the civilized world has collapsed.  Social structure is no more and the world's economy is down the drain.  The people of the world has turned feral and turned to cannibalism to survive.  We follow three unlucky survivors who are making their way through the woods to find somewhere to have a baby.  The expecting father leaves the mother and a friend behind while he scouts for a comfortable place for the mother to give birth.  While away a gang of cannibals comes across the two unprotected women and enjoy the feast.  The father comes across their corpses and sets out to kill those that robbed him of the only humanity he had left in this savage world.

     I've always liked the post-apocalyptic horror film.  This could stem from my love for the Romero Dead series but I've always been drawn to the post-apocalyptic horror film.  There has been an abundance of post-apocalyptic horror films after the popularity of The Walking Dead.  Most of those films are complete dog shit with little to no originality.  Savage may not be the most unique post-apocalyptic horror film but fuck does it pack a punch.  The acting in this one was hit and miss which is common among no budget affairs.  I really enjoyed the intensity of the lead cannibal in the gang.  He was fun but very underwritten.  I would have loved to see this character have more screen time.  The rest of the cast does a solid job but their inexperience shows.  They are one hundred percent dedicated to their roles but at times the dialogue doesn't go the distance it should or feel natural.  Also, like most indie productions, the fight scenes are clunky.  Not as smooth as most would like.  The story for this one got me.  The film is dark and gritty like you would expect from a post-apocalyptic movie that hits you with raw emotion especially if you are father like myself.  The story has a savage disregard for human life that will leave the viewer feeling sick to their stomach.  The characters do lack detail but the dark story makes up for it.  Finally, the blood has plenty of blood and gore but the effects had room for improvement.  The kills that we get are the ones you would expect from a film dealing with the same story.  The cannibalistic kills followed severed limbs and disembowelments.  These was gruesome but the effects needed just a little work.  Don't get me wrong.  They are not bad but there was a little inconsistencies.  Overall, Savage is leaps and bounds above Emir's previous projects.  The story is emotionally draining and the title is fitting.  Check this one out.