Savage House is a perfect example of a 45-minute comedy/drama stretched out to nearly two hours.
Sir Chauncey Savage (Richard E Grant) shows he’s not the catch he thinks he is, as he looks like a corpse dug up from a grave and reanimated, and somehow conned Lady Savage (Claire Foy – H Is For Hawk) into marrying him, as he only did so for her money.
To that end, he’s sold off a lot of her land from right under her nose, cheats at gambling, and plays away in brothels, causing for him to be designated as a ‘rake’, defined as a stylish and charming man, but who lives an immoral and/or dissolute life.
But there’s hope on the way, as the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire are coming to dinner, and to stay for a while. The Savages urgently want to host these guests, because his visit would lead to them becoming insanely rich, given their increased prominence around the bigwigs of the town.
However, in the 18th Century, it’s a time where brains are in scant possession, given how there are people who think that a solar eclipse will bring out evil entities, and Chauncey arranges for a family portrayed with his wife and daughter, Fanny (Kíla Lord Cassidy – The Conjuring 4: Last Rites), with him being depicted holding a pheasant, even though he doesn’t hunt.
In a clear nod to today’s Instagram culture, he chirps, “Nobody wants the reality. They only want the fantasy(!)”
However, with endless time spent showing preparations and rehearsals for when the Devonshires arrive, and a subplot which goes nowhere – where footman and maid Reginald Halifax (Jack Farthing – The Serial Killer’s Wife) and Dorothy Neville (Bel Powley – Equals) – consider trying to poison Chauncey and take over the place, Savage House is really drawn out and very darkly lit – yep, purposely so, but it does irritate when you’re constantly focusing on dark images.
And yes, it’s fun to see Mr Grant chew the scenery in a film, but he did a far better onscreen role in the never-talked-about, but brilliant, Can You Ever Forgive Me? from 2018, opposite Melissa McCarthy in a surprisingly brilliant performance.
Savage House is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 114 minutes
Release date: June 5th 2026
Studio: Paramount Movies
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Rating: 4/10
Director: Peter Glanz
Producers: Peter Glanz, Mark Hopkins, Dylan Maranda, Oliver Roskill, Phillip Thomas
Screenplay: Peter Glanz
Cast:
Sir Chauncey Savage: Richard E Grant
Lady Savage: Claire Foy
Reginald Halifax: Jack Farthing
Dorothy Neville: Bel Powley
Fanny Savage: Kíla Lord Cassidy
Mr Bennett: Richard McCabe
Mrs Bennett: Vicki Pepperdine
Mr Black: Pip Torrens
The Narrator: Robert Bathurst
James Darby: Tony Way
Leslie: Tom Godwin
Dr. Hemmings: Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Angus: Les Kenny-Green
Mr. Brimsby, Jeweller: Nicholas Woodeson
Mr. Blake, Tailor: Samuel Barnett
Hans Roos, Painter: Sebastian Armesto
Mr. Boyle, Decorator: Miles Jupp
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.