Story
Set in 18th-century England, Savage House follows Sir Chauncey Savage and Lady Savage as they pursue the promise of a better life amid a devastating pox outbreak and a Jacobite uprising. Their ambitions unfold within a household shaped by dangerous loyalties, social excess, and a readiness to settle disputes through duels. As unrest spreads beyond the family estate, the Savages find themselves surrounded by bloodshed and uncertainty, with their pursuit of security carrying an unmistakably ironic edge.
The story combines comedy and drama to examine a privileged family living through a period of political rebellion, epidemic fear, and personal volatility. Decadent surroundings sit alongside physical danger, while the Savages' shared name becomes a pointed reflection of the world they inhabit. The tone moves between darkly comic observation and the severe consequences of violence, creating a period setting where status offers limited protection.
Overview
Directed by Peter Glanz, this Canada, Great Britain, and USA co-production presents a stylized portrait of aristocratic life under pressure. The period backdrop brings together the Jacobite uprising, a widespread pox outbreak, and the rituals of a household steeped in privilege. Duels, decadence, and bloodshed define the social landscape, while Sir Chauncey and Lady Savage remain focused on the possibility of improving their circumstances.
With its blend of historical setting, dark humor, and dramatic tension, the film centers on the contrast between refined appearances and savage conduct. The result is a story of ambition and survival played out among people whose sense of entitlement collides with an unstable age.
Cast and Characters
Richard E. Grant, Claire Foy, Jack Farthing, Bel Powley, and Richard McCabe lead the cast. The central figures are Sir Chauncey Savage and Lady Savage, a couple whose shared pursuit of a better life anchors the story. Their family circle occupies a world of ceremony, excess, rivalry, and violence, allowing the ensemble to explore the tensions within a household known as Savage House.
Peter Glanz directs the film, bringing together a period setting, comic sensibility, and dramatic conflict around a family caught between personal ambition and a turbulent society.
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