Is ‘Savages’ Based on a True Story?

Look, you could go outside and enjoy the Spring weather… Or you could stay in and watch Netflix, because the streaming service recently added Oliver Stone‘s action-thriller Savages to its library. If you missed this film when it came out in 2012, now’s your chance to finally catch it. You’re only nine years late! While you’re at it, you may want to check out this film called The Avengers. I hear that’s supposed to be good.

Starring an all-star ensemble including Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Benicio del Toro, Demián Bichir, Salma Hayek, John Travolta, Emile Hirsch, and Blake Lively, Savages tells the story of two American weed dealers who get mixed up in the Mexican drug cartel. They decide to flee the country with their girlfriend (with whom they are both in an open relationship, played by Lively). As you can imagine, it does not go well.

But at least you can take comfort in knowing that the shocking and terrifying things that happen in Savages are not based on a true story.

Is Savages based on a true story?

Nope. Savages is based on a 2010 crime novel of the same name written by Don Winslow, who also co-wrote the movie adaptation with Shane Salerno and Oliver Stone. It is a work of fiction. The novel was a New York Times bestseller and became infamous for its opening line, which simply read: “Fuck you.”

In an interview for Filmmaker Magazine, Winslow said he wasn’t sure where the inspiration for his story and characters came from. He said:

The answer is, I don’t know. I sat down in a very ugly mood; typed out two words: “Fuck you.” And that was the first chapter, and has sort of become the infamous first chapter that I have to live with. Then I sat there and I thought, “Well OK, wise guy, you’ve done that; you got that out of your system. But what about it?” I literally had no story, no idea, no nothing. And I just started typing, and all of a sudden I find myself writing in the voice of this 20-something Orange County woman — which, you know, I’m not [laughs] — talking about her lover who is sitting behind a computer and is cleaning a gun. So I thought, “OK great, but what about that?”

That said, Winslow had researched the DEA’s involvement in the War on Drugs for a previous novel, The Power of the Dog, and said he was also inspired by a video that he had been emailed of seven decapitated bodies. However, after the film came out, some criticized the interpretation of the War on Drugs as skewed and reinforcing stereotypes of Mexican drug cartels, so your best bet is to take Savages as an escapist work of fiction.

And if you’re looking to learn more about the real-life War on Drugs, you might want to check out a documentary or check out a book from your local library. Savages is for entertainment purposes only—not education.

Where to watch Savages