Savage Youth (2018) User Reviews

Oof

[michalbrazier · 3/10 · 21 May 2020]

Good acting but drawn out way longer than it had to be and nothing really happened until the last 15 minutes. The trailer was better than the movie.

Rewriting history

[rowens-38622 · 1/10 · 28 May 2020]

Wow, the white director (I'm white) really took artistic license with this steaming pile of garbage. Knowing the actual story I couldn't even make it all the way through. The white guys are portrayed as Insane Clown Posse fans waxing poetic in a love story while the black victims of these murders are portrayed as mask wearing, gun toting drug dealers. I guess artistic license doesn't equal telling a remotely accurate story.

"KIDS" comes to mind in a rural setting

[vetourproductions · 7/10 · 11 May 2019]

Slice of life from the dredges. Decent acting, well shot. I was left with some questions that I don't plan to revisit for clarity, yet felt believable in its execution. Didn't over play the violence, in a genre that usually leans on it. Very entertaining.

Do not waste your time

[htttrh · 1/10 · 10 April 2019]

A short film painfully stretched out for 100 minutes. Pure garbage. Not even going to was any more time here. Already wasted $5 and that was enough.

Not good

[coolhands-21818 · 1/10 · 29 January 2021]

They try to be dramatic and intense but it's just so corny and stereotypical it's unbearable. How are we supposed to take this film seriously? It's terrible.

Great indie flick

[giamosafid · 9/10 · 27 February 2020]

This film has a very dramatic story line and amazing acting, especially from Grace Victoria Cox who is beautiful and fascinating in this visually stunning feature. Many people don't know how hard it is to pull off an indie film like this with only limited resources and time. Yet, even for a big budget film, it was truly very enjoyable! It is definitely worth the time and money!

Coming-to-death in declining America

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 1 April 2024]

Seven youths in a town 40 miles southwest of Chicago try to find meaning, purpose, love and happiness, but without a spiritual compass veer toward crime and tragedy.

"Savage Youth" (2018) is a dark coming-of-age drama with gritty realism and an artsy flair similar to films like "Kids," "White Rabbit," "Undertow" and "Back Roads." The difference is that this one is based on the real-life Nightmare on Hickory Street Murders that took place on January 9, 2013, although the names have been changed (as usual), along with other necessary alterations.

Will Brittain is charismatic in a brooding way as Jason, patterned after the ringleader of the small gang, Joshua Miner, who was 24. The other three key white youths were 18-19 while the two black guys were 22. Being a little older with a certain amount of charisma, it's not hard to see how he could mislead the others with his harebrained schemes.

At the end of the day, this is a realistic portrayal of youths growing up in declining American despair. Don't expect a fun time, but a sad, empty, one-note commentary. If you can roll with this, it's effectively done, not to mention a necessary artistic documentation.

The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in Joliet, Illinois, and Chicago.

GRADE: B.

Young rapper bores ihs way through life

[mancinibrown · 2/10 · 28 July 2019]

Savage Youth is apparently based on a true story, though I didn't look into the background. We're introduced to three teenagers, who are trying to make it as rappers. Otherwise they seem to have nothing in life. They hang out with two girls, and a serious relationship forms. The relationship ends, and jealousy ensues.

That basically is the story of the movie, but I couldn't wait for it to end. The relationship of the characters was incredibly shallow and unbelievable. How they went from friends to madly in love to broken up didn't seem to have any actions causing it. Then watching her form a new friendship and the consequences of that were irrational as well.

Please don't waste your time with this.

Senseless and boring

[cstover-28468 · 3/10 · 22 February 2020]

My gf saw the trailer for this online and thought it looked interesting enough to watch. The trailer was far more entertaining than the movie. So many scenes felt like they just dragged on just to go nowhere. The characters also seemed to make really weird decisions that pretty much no one would actually do in real life out of nowhere but they had to do them to move the stupid plot of this movie along.

Just don't waste your time.

poor movie

[dopestarrrr · 2/10 · 23 April 2019]

Really poor movie stretched out way longer that it had to be. some mediocre acting, but thats it.

btw, i love how these movies always get 10/10 ratings by persons who only signed up here to make this review.

Worst of the Worst

[mcjensen-05924 · 1/10 · 11 November 2023]

How this ended up with a rating over 5 is confounding beyond words. People love trash it seems. Other than a very pretty lead actress there's nothing other to say that's positive about his except the opening scene that falsely gave the viewer hope. But then everyone started acting foolish and one ridiculous scene followed another eye rolling scene until you thought you'd never get to the end of this disaster. It's not that the acting was that bad because it was competent. The cast just had nothing to work with. Dialogue was hilariously awful. A love story that had no passion or credibility in any way. It would be nice to see people portrayed in a realistic fashion, especially since it's based on true events. You will laugh until you cry, but you will not be entertained.

Haunting

[cfp-35246 · 9/10 · 24 February 2020]

A solid story line, splendid realistic acting by every actor in this movie, in particular by Will Brittain, who in my opinion will be a star! And great direction. In particular, the cinematography was excellent. I love the work of Magela Crosignani. The end was surprising, in the manner in which violence was portrayed. It is almost imagined and implied, but never really shown. Watched this movie and was pleasantly surprised. Well worth it. We need more movies like this.

A haunting drama that will stay with me for a long time

[daphnekahnmiller · 10/10 · 12 April 2019]

Not only is this movie gorgeous to look at, but the cast does such a good job of conveying the heartbreak and tragedy that can consume you when you're young. Was on the edge of my seat the entire time and was completely blown away by what ends up happening.

Captivating and very authentic!

[sesh-74978 · 10/10 · 11 April 2019]

I was really drawn in because it seemed so real. There are truly groups of kids like this that exist and as a parent, it just makes me want to hang out with our children more and make sure they're hanging with the right crowds. This movie had a great perspective and was a much better quality film than I expected from an Indie. I don't usually watch indies but heard this one was worth it. I was not disappointed!

Moving portrayal of disaffected young lives

[andjow · 10/10 · 11 April 2019]

A heartbreaking portrayal of the entwined tragic lives of outcast twenty-somethings. Shows how easily some disaffected young people get sucked into their own black hole. Passionate and self-destructive, their tragic lives are of their own making, yet the way out has always been within their reach. Worth seeing; based on a true story.

brilliant

[mrbgoode-1 · 10/10 · 12 October 2019]

Captivating, excellent acting, direction, filming, sound

Beautiful Movie with amazing cinematography and soundtrack

[marco-creativeinvestment · 8/10 · 18 April 2019]

An exposé of nihilism and abuse, it is a brutal examination of doomed youth exiled to society's edge. Yet it captures a certain inner beauty. Very solid performances all around, amazing cinematography and soundtrack.

Very highly recommended!

fantastic

[watcher2019 · 9/10 · 28 April 2019]

Outstanding performance from all of the actors in this film. Very moving lovestory in corporated into this. I did try to find out the real story behind it but i couldnt find anything on the internet. Well worth watching.

Modern day Greek tragedy

[kchat · 10/10 · 18 April 2019]

I was very moved by this movie! Based on a true crime, Savage Youth gives the viewer a very intimate look into the world of these troubled kids. I also loved the freestyle rapping that served like a Greek chorus. Interesting storytelling, beautifully shot, and great performances from the cast. Well done.

👍🏼 👍🏼 One of My Favorites at Atlanta Film Festival

[larrythedirt · 10/10 · 10 April 2019]

This film may not be for everyone, but I loved it when I saw at the Atlanta Film Festival. I definitely recommend checking it out and interested to see what the director does next.

Solid Film and Great Young Cast!

[BobbyD15 · 10/10 · 10 April 2019]

This film was not what I expected at all. I really enjoyed the film and I thought the cast was great. Solid 9!

Brillaint Movie

[clarissavennerbeck · 10/10 · 24 February 2020]

I LOVED THIS MOVIE. I loved the way it was filmed. Absolutely brilliant. It gave me an independent movie/indie vibe. I, like most, are addicted to my phone. I didn't pick up my phone during this movie. I recommend it.

Not what I expected; very good.

[mountaintop-85433 · 8/10 · 19 September 2020]

I was expecting something like "Havoc," with Anne Hathaway. This movie had more of an artistic slant and was more cerebral. It has a haunting quality plus it's based on a true story (loosely). I rarely say this about a movie but the lead guy in this role was scary, which draws you in and makes it believable. I was surprised, but it was very good.