It is fair to say that the Irish film industry has been struggling of late due a serious lack of quality films being produced with the last film of any note being 2008’s In Bruges. Step forward writer/director Brendan Muldowney to right this situation with his excellent look into the psychological effects of being mugged with his 2010 film entitled Savage.
Paul Graynor is a photographer who earns a living shooting pictures of the seedier side of Dublin’s nightlife. He happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time one night and is viciously mugged and emasculated by two young men who seemed to have no qualms about committing the crime. The attack has a deeply psychological affect on Paul and he struggles to overcome the attack, eventually leading to his demise.
A strange mix between Taxi Driver and Death Wish, Savage is certainly not your usual revenge film and is extremely powerful at times. It’s brilliantly written and directed by Muldowney who has managed to create a truly disturbed character that simply can’t get off the path to destruction. Huge credit has to go to Darren Healy for bring the character of Graynor to live, he is incredibly believable in the role and really brings to psychological torment that Graynor is going through to the screen. The film is excellently paced with the opening act setting up the attack, the middle act dealing with Graynor’s torment and the final act with his shocking demise. The films climax is devastatingly brutal and shocking and is the ultimate depiction of messed up Paul has become. Credit must also be given for the excellent cinematography for capturing the darker side of Dublin and for the excellent supporting cast.
Savage really is the best Irish film of the last few years and is a powerful depiction of a man slowly losing his mind. There is very little to fault here with huge credit having to go to Muldowney for bringing it to the screen. Extremely harrowing at times, Savage is a must see film and finally proves that Ireland is capable of producing good films again.
8/10
I found this movie to be surprisingly good, Paul Graynor is a believable role, although I found that the motive of the two muggers to be a little off.
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