In contrast to Buñuel's story, Savages starts when a tribe of primitive "mudpeople" performing a sacrifice encounter a croquet ball, rolling through their forest.

Entering, they begin to become civilized and assume the stereotypical roles and dress of people at a weekend party.

At last, they begin to devolve toward their original status, and after a battle at croquet, they disappear into the woods.

Matt Brunson noted that Savages is an "intriguing short-film idea stretched out to feature length, worth a glance primarily as an artifact of its time".

[2] This film has been released on DVD in 2004 as part of the Merchant-Ivory Collection produced by Criterion.