How to describe "Fango Bollente" accurately? It's Italians doing what Italians do best, namely copying the rudimentary idea of a successful cinema hit and make their own version that is less polished but much more violent & fast-paced. In this case, the plot is clearly inspired by "A Clockwork Orange" but without the dystopian future setting or the experimental reformations. So, basically, it's a story about privileged and spoiled brats committing random acts of extreme violence for no reason other than kicks. The Italian cult cinema era brought forward several films like these, and they are all fabulous! Next to "The Three Savages", there's also "Violence for Kicks", "Naked Violence" and " Young, Violent, Dangerous", and "The Children of Violent Rome".
Ovidio, Giacomo and Peppa work in different departments of a large multinational, but after working hours they come together to let off steam in unusual ways. It starts out playful, with causing riots in a football stadium (although there is nevertheless a fatality) and stealing vehicles for joyrides, but their wild nights soon end with brutal murders and rapes. The police are looking for the culprits in all the wrong places, and only the experienced but degraded Inspector Santagà is on their trail.
As righteously pointed out by many other reviewers already, "Three Savages" distinguishes itself through uncompromising and downright brutal violence. The murder of the prostitute and her pimp are merciless, and especially the attack on the wife of a politician is unimaginably shocking and sick. What I also admired about Ernesto Gastaldi and Vittorio Salerno's script is how they still give an interesting and believable background to the three delinquents. Peppe is going crazy at home because of all the family members living in the house, Giacomo is on the run from arguing neighbors & a strict landlady, and Ovidio is frustrated that his wife has a much more successful career than he does. Great movie, a must for Italian cult hunters!
