Savage Grace (2007)
A harrowing true-crime drama about obsession, privilege, and the destruction wrought by a mother's toxic love for her son.
Savage Grace - Movie Information
- Original Title: Savage Grace
- Release Year: 2007
- Directed by: Tom Kalin
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 37m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 4, 2007 (Czech Republic), November 13, 2007 (United States - NR), July 27, 2007 (Australia - R18+), September 30, 2007 (Brazil), June 20, 2008 (Italy - 14), July 9, 2009 (South Korea - 18)
- Alternative Titles: Savage Grace (US), 兽性的诱惑 (CN), A szerelem kegyelme (HU), Desejos selvagens (PT), Vahsi zarafet (TR), Uwiklani (PL), Pecados Inocentes (BR), Okrutna milost (HR)
- Production Companies: Montfort Producciones, Killer Films, Celluloid Dreams, ATO Pictures, 120dB Films, A Contraluz Films, Videntia Frames, John Wells Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America, Spain, France
Savage Grace - Plot
This examination of a famous scandal from the 1970s explores the relationship between Barbara Baekeland and her only son, Antony. Barbara, a lonely social climber unhappily married to the wealthy but remote plastics heir Brooks Baekeland, dotes on Antony, who is homosexual. As Barbara tries to "cure" Antony of his sexuality -- sometimes by seducing him herself -- the groundwork is laid for a murderous tragedy.
Savage Grace - Trailer
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Savage Grace - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Tom Kalin
Main Cast
- Julianne Moore
- Stephen Dillane
- Eddie Redmayne
- Anne Reid
- Elena Anaya
- Hugh Dancy
- Martin Huberty
- Minnie Marx
- Jim Arnold
- Mapi Galán
Writers
- Howard A. Rodman
Producers
- Pamela Koffler
- Iker Monfort
- Katie Roumel
- Christine Vachon
Savage Grace - FAQs
What is Savage Grace about?
Savage Grace follows Barbara Baekeland, a desperate socialite trapped in a loveless marriage to plastics heir Brooks Baekeland, and her suffocating obsession with her gay son Antony. Her attempts to control and "cure" him spiral into psychological abuse and incest, culminating in a real-life murder that shocked 1970s high society.
Is Savage Grace based on a true story?
Yes, Savage Grace is drawn directly from real events. Barbara Daly Baekeland, granddaughter-in-law of Bakelite plastic inventor Leo Baekeland, was stabbed to death by her son Antony in London in 1972. The film is adapted from the 1985 book by Natalie Robins and Steven M.L. Aronson.
Where can you stream Savage Grace?
You can stream Savage Grace on AMC+, Sundance Now, and Philo. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store, and you can catch it for free with ads on Tubi TV.
Does Julianne Moore's performance live up to the hype?
Julianne Moore delivers one of her most daring performances as Barbara Baekeland — vain, magnetic, and deeply disturbed. Critics widely praised her fearless commitment to a role that demands enormous emotional and physical vulnerability. It's the kind of performance that lingers long after the film ends.
What is the relationship between Barbara and Antony?
Barbara and Antony share a deeply codependent, ultimately incestuous bond. Isolated by her husband's emotional distance, Barbara fixates on her son, attempting to redirect his homosexuality through seduction. The film portrays this as a slow psychological unraveling — a mother's possessiveness curdling into something catastrophic and irreversible.
Who are the main actors in Savage Grace?
The film stars Julianne Moore as Barbara Baekeland, Eddie Redmayne as her son Antony, and Stephen Dillane as the emotionally remote Brooks Baekeland. The supporting cast includes Hugh Dancy, Anne Reid, and Elena Anaya, all contributing to the film's tense, claustrophobic atmosphere.
How was Savage Grace received by critics?
Critical reception was mixed but respectful. Most reviewers singled out Julianne Moore's performance as exceptional, while some found the film's detached, episodic structure cold and distancing. It's widely regarded as a bold, uncompromising art-house drama — admired more for its performances than its narrative momentum.
Who directed Savage Grace and what else has he made?
Tom Kalin directed Savage Grace. He's best known for his 1992 debut Swoon, a stylized account of the Leopold and Loeb murder case. Kalin has a distinct interest in true-crime narratives involving transgression and identity, and Savage Grace fits squarely within that thematic territory.
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