Awesome Movie

Admirable film.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Horton Madec (Andy Griffith) is an out of towner with a lot of money. He's out to bag some bighorn sheep but needs a guide...so he asks Ben (Sam Bottoms) to show him about the southwest desert in search of his prey. However, soon Horton is being sloppy and shoots at something without a clear idea what it is...and it turns out to be a man. Instead of owning up to this, he quickly buries the guy. But Ben discovers the corpse and cannot allow Horton to just walk away from this. However, Horton has the trump card...he's got the rifle. So, he strips Ben down to just his pants and sends him into the desert to die. But, just to make sure, he tags along behind him and hunts for Ben! Nice guy, huh...and quite the sadist as Horton REALLY enjoys the hunt.This is yet another film where Andy Griffith seemed to be trying to exorcise his nice-guy demons (after all, he was the sweet and affable sheriff on TV for many years). So with films like "Pray for the Wildcats" and "Savages" he clearly was playing against type...deliberately choosing the most vicious sorts of characters! As far as the plot goes, the first two thirds of the film is best. After Ben returns home...well that's where, occasionally, the film makes less sense. Why the cops didn't believe Ben's story (especially in light of his exposure injuries) is inexplicable. Still, it's well made and well worth seeing...especially to see Andy Griffith's 'evil twin' at work!!

Why aren't the TV networks open to fresh, compelling stuff like they were forty years ago? Who knows? You'd think it would be a tremendous benefit to both burgeoning filmmakers and the networks alike."Savages" is another one of those gems that graced the Movie of the Week time slot (usually on ABC) and is now, sadly, unavailable. You can still find kind souls willing to sell you home tapes of it on eBay, though, and this one is worth the hunting.The comparisons to Spielberg's "Duel" here on IMDb are not unwarranted in the least. In a way, this movie, while not being as well-made (what could be?) is more brutal and hard to watch mostly because of Andy Griffith's no-holds-barred performance, which amounts to nothing less than evil incarnate.I saw this on TV as a child, and back then, I saw only similarities to "The Most Dangerous Game." But after a few more viewings, I think it's quite different. The key to this puzzle is: "Did Maddock set the entire scenario up with the Sam Bottoms character from the start? Did he really intend to hunt him?" I'm not completely sure he did, now that I've seen it a few more times. I think it really did start as a legitimate hunting accident, and then Maddock's sadistic nature just took over. And does it ever...Griffith howls hysterically as he forces the bare-chested, bare-footed guide to tumble down rocky ravines; gleefully blows holes in his canteen; and waves iced martinis under his nose as he's dying of thirst. He cold be the most hateful baddie in all of TV movie-dom, and Griffith eats the role up with a spoon.Even when they're out of the desert, the tension doesn't quit, and there's good supporting work here from Noah Beery and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane himself, James Best, looking extremely young and fit.The only thing that mars it is the horrendous music, which is as bad as anything on TV ever got, and the fact that it's difficult if not impossible to find a print of this that's not deteriorating in some manner.We need a best of TV movie box....with "Dying Room Only," "Bad Ronald," "Shattered Silence," "The Girl Most Likely To...," "Terror on the Beach," "Outrage," "Night Cries," "A Case of Rape," etc. We'll likely never see the likes of them again.

This atypical and highly suspenseful battle of wits in the high desert features Andy Griffith cleverly cast against type as a menacing and creepy villain who keeps you (and the protagonist) guessing to the end. Essentially one extended chase / battle between two people, SAVAGES eschews intervention from the outside world until late, which keeps the story simple and focused on the two's mortal (and mental) combat. Several cat and mouse exchanges are intriguing but the piece is most compelling because of its unusually personal narrative. Similar in theme to HELL IN THE PACIFIC, Spielberg's DUEL and THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME, SAVAGES is still its own movie and is difficult to turn away from once you start watching, though it isn't always pleasant.Better than many features and way above average for television, SAVAGES is an excellent neglected thriller with many surprises and a literate, well-reasoned script. Based on the dynamite novel DEATH WATCH by longtime William Castle horror scribe Robb White (possibly his best work.) 9/10

This is one of the best TV movies I have ever seen, and easily the most sadistic. Andy Griffith is absolute perfection as the crippled big city predatory lawyer and hunting enthusiast who turns guide and nature lover Sam Bottoms into his prey. His performance is a true work of art. But, all the entire players, including Noah Beery Jr. and James Best are perfectly cast. A true game of hearts, mind, and soul. Not to be missed. 10/10