Xue bao / Savage (2018) - Blind-sided in the blizzard - 7/10 (12/01/20)

Savage is a gritty Chinese action-thriller set in magnificent North-Eastern winter landscapes. A group of three criminals steals a gold transport and encounters two police officers on their way from the mountain. One of these officers gets fatally shot and the criminals must escape in a hurry as they leave the bounty behind. One year later, the surviving police officer is still haunted by the past and refuses to commit to a relationship with a local doctor who was desired both by his deceased partner and himself. The grim lone wolf discovers two poachers and tries to warn them of an incoming extreme blizzard. To his own surprise, the two poachers aren't trying to hunt animals but are actually two of the three criminals who hid the gold in a valley one year earlier. The third criminal and head of the group isn't too far away either. To make matters even more complicated, the local doctor comes out to the mountain to bid farewell to the police officer since she is going to be transferred to Beijing. The protagonist now has to face off against three ruthless criminals, protect the unsuspecting doctor and survive the harsh blizzard.

This gripping action-thriller convinces for numerous reasons. First and foremost, the winter landscapes are absolutely breathtaking and worth watching the film alone. Secondly, the lead characters are truly intriguing and especially the grim police officer and the charming doctor are easy to empathize with. The movie convinces with a constant gloomy atmosphere from start to finish. The action scenes are authentic and intense. The scenes in an isolated camp are inspired by The Hateful Eight and anyone who likes the Quentin Tarantino movie is also going to appreciate this film.

The film has a few minor flaws that keep it from being more than just good. The story is overall flat and predictable. The film has a few lengths in the middle section and loses some momentum here. The characters of the villains could have been a little bit more fleshed out as they remain rather formulaic.

Still, Savage is an entertaining movie for anyone who likes thrillers taking place in snowy landscapes such as Cold Pursuit. The movie might not be the most creative of its kind but takes its inspiration from genre classics and contemporary highlights. The sinister atmosphere, intriguing lead characters and stunning locations are among the film's greatest strengths. It's also noteworthy that this Chinese film avoids the usual propaganda that waters almost any other production down and focuses on the basics instead. I would certainly recommend this film to my friends and also watch it again.