TRAILERS
First Trailer for New Zealand Street Gang Film 'Savage' from Sam Kelly
by Alex Billington
July 20, 2020
Source: YouTube
"Everyone should see who you are!" Madman Films has released the first official trailer for a New Zealand drama titled Savage, which premiered at the London Film Festival last year. 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 in New Zealand. "Danny and Moses, who were both raised on the streets, shuffled through New Zealand's juvenile justice system, and ultimately became high-ranking members of an infamous Maori street gang -- despite the fact that Danny is white." Starring Jake Ryan as Danny, and John Tui as Moses, along with Chelsie Preston Crayford and Olly Presling. This looks like one hell of a film. Not a story I was expecting to see, but I dig it - some solid footage in this trailer.
Here's the first international trailer (+ teaser poster) for Sam Kelly's Savage, from Madman's YouTube:
Inspired by stories from New Zealand’s boys homes and the early history of our gangs, Savage follows Danny across three decades of his life: from the abusive state-run boys’ institutions of the sixties; to the emerging urban gang scene in the seventies where disenfranchised teenagers created their own families on the streets; to the eighties when gangs became more structured, criminal, and violent. Together the three chapters of Danny’s life combine to create a deeper look at a boy who grows up to become the brutal enforcer of a gang; and understand how he got there. Savage is both written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Sam Kelly, making his feature directorial debut after a few other short films previously. This first premiered at the London Film Festival last year. Madman Films will release Kelly's Savage in cinemas in New Zealand starting on August 27th. No other release dates are set yet. First impression? Look good?
4 Comments
1
Yeah, it lools dark and gritty. And I'm thinking, the most violent choices that man can take is not to be violent ...
shiboleth on Jul 20, 2020
2
Yea, well, that's pretty spiritual, shiboleth...but a bit of a high mark for most to meet...especially the people represented in this film. It looked pretty good to me. Reminded me of another titled Once Were Warriors from the same location. That too was dark and gritty...very dark and gritty...but authentic and told the truth. This looks to be the same for me. I'll watch it knowing it's going to be a rough and violent go, but if it's done right and it's authentic that's good enough for me. Cheers. Check out Once Were Warriors if you haven't seen that one.
thespiritbo on Jul 20, 2020
3
Oh yes, I saw Once Were Warriors a long time ago (twice, I think). Exquisite film. I even think they made a sequel with Tamuera Morrison (the lead actor) about him and the fate of his son in some street gang. Not even close to the first one. But anyway, I might be wrong about this one here since it looks like it's putting his cards too much on violence. Of course, it's just the feeling. Other than that, I can agree with you, this doesn't look bad. But I hope it will be, as you say, authentic. As always, remains to be seen. Cheers ...
shiboleth on Jul 21, 2020
4
Glad you saw Once Were Warriors. I would expect violence in this new one as that's what it's about; just like Once Were Warriors was about violence...especially against women in that culture. I thought the actress who played the wife in Warriors was very, very good and very believable. So, yea...there's going to be a lot of violence. It seems this culture in New Zealand is infused with violence. Not that most cultures aren't, but this one seems to be more severe and prominent. Later gator.
thespiritbo on Jul 22, 2020
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