Savage Dawn (1985)
A Vietnam vet and a few desperate locals take on a ruthless biker gang that has seized an Arizona desert town in this gritty 1985 action thriller.
Savage Dawn - Movie Information
- Original Title: Savage Dawn
- Release Year: 1985
- Directed by: Simon Nuchtern
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 42m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 21, 1985 (United States), May 22, 1986 (Germany - 18)
- Alternative Titles: Crépuscule Sauvage (FR), Die Hyänen - Einer muß sie jagen (DE)
- Production Companies: Mag Enterprises
- Production Countries: United States of America
Savage Dawn - Plot
A vicious biker gang takes over a small town in Arizona. A Vietnam War vet passing through town and a few locals with nothing to lose go to war with the gang's ruthless leader.
Savage Dawn - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the chaos unfold:
The reign of terror is about to end.
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Savage Dawn - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Simon Nuchtern
Main Cast
- George Kennedy
- Richard Lynch
- Karen Black
- Claudia Udy
- Lance Henriksen
- Lewis van Bergen
- Leo Gordon
- Michael Sharrett
- Elizabeth Kaitan
- William Forsythe
Writers
- Bill Milling
Producers
- Gregory Earls
Savage Dawn - FAQs
What is Savage Dawn about?
Savage Dawn follows a battle-hardened Vietnam veteran who rolls into a quiet Arizona desert town just as a ruthless biker gang seizes control of it. Teaming up with a handful of desperate locals, he wages an all-out war against the gang's violent leader in this gritty 1985 action thriller.
Is Sam Kinison really in Savage Dawn?
Yes! Comedian Sam Kinison appears in Savage Dawn as a barber — one of his very first screen roles, made before his stand-up career exploded into mainstream fame. It's a fun piece of trivia for fans who spot him in this otherwise straight-faced biker action film.
Where can you stream Savage Dawn?
You can stream Savage Dawn on several platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Tubi TV, Troma NOW, Night Flight Plus, The Roku Channel, Plex, Kanopy, and Fawesome. It's also available to rent or buy on Fandango At Home, making it easy to track down.
Who plays the villain in Savage Dawn?
Richard Lynch plays Rev. Romano, the gang's menacing leader, while Lance Henriksen portrays Stryker, the film's central hero. Lynch was a go-to villain in 1980s genre cinema, and his cold, unsettling screen presence makes Romano a genuinely threatening antagonist throughout the film.
Who are the main actors in Savage Dawn?
The cast is stacked with genre favorites. Lance Henriksen leads as Stryker, joined by George Kennedy, Richard Lynch, Karen Black, Claudia Udy, Lewis van Bergen, Leo Gordon, Michael Sharrett, Elizabeth Kaitan, and William Forsythe — plus a blink-and-you'll-miss-it early appearance by Sam Kinison.
Is Savage Dawn based on a true story?
No, Savage Dawn is not based on a true story. It's an original action thriller set in the Arizona desert, drawing on the popular 1980s formula of Vietnam veteran revenge films and outlaw biker narratives — think Mad Max meets small-town siege cinema, purely fictional from start to finish.
Who directed Savage Dawn and when was it released?
Simon Nuchtern directed Savage Dawn, which hit US screens on December 21, 1985. Nuchtern was an experienced low-budget filmmaker, and the film later received a German release in May 1986 under the title Die Hyänen - Einer muß sie jagen.
Is Savage Dawn worth watching for action fans?
If you love 1980s B-movie action, Savage Dawn delivers. The film boasts a surprisingly strong ensemble — Henriksen, Kennedy, Lynch, and Black — and leans hard into explosions, biker mayhem, and bare-knuckle confrontations. It's rough around the edges but genuinely entertaining for fans of the era's grindhouse aesthetic.
More About Savage Dawn
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