Based on the Don Winslow novel of the same name, Savages follows a pair of California pot growers who come into conflict with a Mexican drug cartel. Winslow, Oliver Stone, and Shane Salerno all adapted the novel together, and the result is a delirious and unpredictable crime thriller.
While part of the renewed interest in Savages can be attributed to the easier availability provided by Netflix, there are also plenty of things about the movie itself that make it a worthwhile viewing experience. For starters, like most of Stone's films, Savages is very stylishly directed and is almost always visually interesting to look at. The plot and characters also make Savages a highly unpredictable and tense thriller filled with surprising twists and moments of truly shocking violence. The film's third act, in particular, takes the viewer on a ride that's hard to predict.
Several members of the movie's cast deliver memorable performances throughout it as well. Benicio del Toro brings tension and terror as a Mexican drug cartel enforcer, while Blake Lively gives the film an added level of emotion with her performance as Ophelia "O" Sage, who is kidnapped and used as a pawn by the cartel.
All in all, Savages is a unique and pulpy crime thriller — one that few others even feel remotely similar to.
