Savage Beach (1989) User Reviews (18)

If I was marooned an island with these girls, I wouldn't want to be rescued.

[BA_Harrison · 5/10 · 3 May 2012]

Savage Beach is hardly a great departure for director Andy Sidaris, yet another cheezy adventure featuring his stock-in-trade heavily armed, big breasted babes, heroic hunks and despicable bad guys; but although it's still a long way from a work of art, this is perhaps the most enjoyable out of the Sidaris films I've seen so far thanks to a story-line in which a more straightforward adventure takes precedence over the series' usual convoluted espionage nonsense.

The plot sees Taryn and Donna (Hope Marie Carlton and Dona Speir), Molokai's sexiest cargo pilot/drug enforcement agents, take a break from fighting desperate, evil, power-hungry villains to deliver some desperately needed medical supplies to a remote island hospital. On their way home from the drop, the girls run into a violent storm and wind up crashing on a supposedly uninhabited island where they do some naked swimming, construct a hut out of palm leaves, encounter an aged WWII Japanese soldier (sporting the world's worst old-age make-up), and somehow still wind up fighting desperate, evil, power-hungry villains who just happen to be on the island searching for a horde of gold.

In addition to endless shots of the super-buff Carlton and Speir parading around in tight white vests, oh-so-short-shorts and cowboy boots (even when engaging in bouts of unconvincing combat), Savage Beach also offers several other well-endowed babes who are equally obliging when it comes to showing us their wares, a fair few squibtastic bullet hits, some fun kung fu fight scenes, the occasional spot of nookie, plus cult actor Al Leong who, as one of the main goons, shows why he rarely gets given speaking parts.

I rate this trashy nonsense a reasonable 5.5 out of 10—my highest score yet for a Sidaris film—but it's still not good enough for me to warrant rounding it up to 6. Maybe next time, Andy... maybe next time.

The Girls Stole My Attention

[whpratt1 · 3/10 · 20 March 2006]

In 1989 the gals in this picture looked fantastic, and their outfits were out of this world. Dona Speir,(Donna),"Fit to Kill",'93, played a very hot looking gal who showed plenty of her flesh and especially her cleavage. Hope Marie,(Taryn),"Nactropolis",94, worked together with Donna and also showed a great deal of her body parts. These two gals wind up in forgotten Hawaiian isles where WW II was fought with the Japs and there still remained a single person who was still fighting the world and had regrets over having killed American's during the war. Donna and Hope are faced with all kinds of men in the jungle, and fighting hand to hand combat with big and small men who are drawn to these women like a magnet. The acting was horrible, and if it was not for the two women in this picture, my vote would have been ZERO !

Good natured and silly fun

[JohnSeal · 4/10 · 20 July 2003]

A typical entry in the Sidaris filmography, Savage Beach features the usual assortment of well-endowed women, goofy villains, and exotic locations, and is simple minded if occasionally violent fun. The highlight of this one is Michael Mikasa's appearance as a World War II Japanese soldier stranded on a remote island--in order to age him, the makeup department seems to have submerged his head in a bowl of collodion. It's not a pretty sight.

Check out the Ladies

[cannibalfreak100 · 9 December 2001]

Not a bad film, Im sadly quite a fan of Andy Sidaris so i thought this was Ok. When i say this, I dont mean you wanna go comparing to Citizen Kane or something. But if you like; poor acting (to point where its funny), top heavy women, and script writing of an all together different calliber, then this is for you. The highlight for me (other than the naked beach scene) was the japenese wild mans origin story. Only let down - no Julie Strain!!

Another good one

[pmtelefon · 5/10 · 17 November 2020]

I don't want to call writer/director Andy Sidaris a genius but that guy knew what he was doing and he did it well. He took dreamy gals and put them in beautiful locations and made movie magic. "Savage Beach" is another solid entry in his filmography. Of course, I would have never been able to watch Sedaris' movies with my mother. But if I'm looking for a movie with my friends, "Savage Beach" is a perfect choice. Honorable mention: all of the girls.

Okay effort a little different from the others triple-Bs

[IndustriousAngel · 5/10 · 25 September 2019]

"Savage Beach" differs from the other films in the series; most of its action takes place in a very confined space after our heroines find themselves stranded without fuel on what must be the most crowded lone island in film history as a lot of players turn up, lured by a gold treasure. Because of this limitation to the island, there's less flying and driving and technical gadgets than in the other Sidaris movies; however the amount of boobs and bombs is up to the usual standard; instead of flying or driving around we now have the ladies stalking through the "jungle" setting; in Dona Speir's case armed with a Steyr AUG which makes it a nice watch for male Austrians like me as this was our standard gun in the army. Sadly my comrades didn't look half as sexy as Dona ...

This was Hope-Marie Carlton's last appearence as Taryn; I'm sorry she got replaced by Roberta Vasquez - while Roberta was arguably the more beautiful one, Hope-Marie had an easygoing and joyful vibrancy which Roberta couldn't match - those happy and mischievous smiles everytime she offed a guy were priceless!

As to acting- while Sidaris' triple-B series seems to be considered some sort of pinnacle of bad acting, that's very exaggerated - no one of the regulars were really good actors, but they were not that bad either. If you want to witness real bad acting, well, we have that too, it's guest "star" Teri Weigel's and it makes you thankful her apperance was strictly one-time - and appreciate the other players some more.

Definitely one of the better entries in the series, 5/10

Two female DEA agents asked to fly medication from Molokai to Knox Island crash on a remote island.

[The-Plague · 3/10 · 14 June 2014]

I don't throw around the term bad movie very often, but "Savage Beach" was worse than the jump to conclusions mat, which according Samir Nagheenanajar is a horrible idea. Directed by Andy Sidaris, "Savage beach" has two plots that come together. One plot follows Donna and Taryn, two DEA agents who are asked to fly medication to Knox Island. On their way back their plane is struck by lightning and they land on a remote Hawaiian island that seems to have no inhabitants. The second story involves a representative from the Philippines who is working with the American government to retrieve gold that was stolen from his country by Japan during WWII. The two stories come together at the end when all parties arrive at the island in which Donna and Taryn initially crash landed to look for the stolen gold.

"Savage Beach" is a typical B list action movie filled with explosions, poor acting, and nudity. The combination of these three elements do not always guarantee a bad movie, leaving an opportunity for "so bad it's good" status, but "Savage Beach" just does not make the cut. The movie is full of sexual innuendos that pale in comparison to a good old fashioned "that's what she said" joke, and the only recognizable actor is Al Leong, or as you might now him, that Asian bad guy from every movie.

"Savage Beach" definitely exploits a guy's love of nude women, All principal actresses in this movie are former playboy playmates, which doesn't make them qualified for much other than taking their clothes off, and take their clothes off they do! "Savage Beach" has a scene with female nudity about every fifteen minutes, some more ridiculous than others. At one point in the film Donna and Taryn put the airplane on autopilot so they can get topless under the ruse of changing their shirts, wet from the storm on Knox Island. As the movie progressed I began thinking that Sidaris was playing an altered form of the meow game from "Super Troopers," attempting to see how many topless women he could incorporate in ninety minutes.

"Savage Beach" definitely exploits a guy's love of nude women, All principal actresses in this movie are former playboy playmates, which doesn't make them qualified for much other than taking their clothes off, and take their clothes off they do! "Savage Beach" has a scene with female nudity about every fifteen minutes, some more ridiculous than others. At one point in the film Donna and Taryn put the airplane on autopilot so they can get topless under the ruse of changing their shirts, wet from the storm on Knox Island. As the movie progressed I began thinking that Sidaris was playing an altered form of the meow game from "Super Troopers," attempting to see how many topless women he could incorporate in ninety minutes.

I stumbled across this movie inside of the Andy Sidaris collection entitled "Girls, Guns, and G Strings." After viewing "Savage Beach" I can say that the name of the DVD collection is fitting, but it does not leave me much hope for the rest of Sidaris' work. Nudity, the main appeal of "Savage Beach," is strategically strewn throughout the movie, but it isn't enough to maintain a viewer's attention (especially a female viewer). The only part of this movie that showed any promise was a five minute deathbed confession from a Japanese soldier at its end. I recommend laughing at the drug filled pineapples shown within the first five minutes, then skipping to the end, saving yourself time and avoiding disappointment.

arlene runs the show

[sandcrab277 · 4/10 · 11 June 2019]

In case you never watched these big boobs films, be aware that the writer/director's wife arlene sidaris is the producer and she hires all the women only if they show the goods, which is actually kind of dumb since the girls are known for it... perhaps arlene had a thing for naked babes ... like all their stupid scripts, this one will eventually be topped by the return to savage beach including julie strain ... at one point the stranded women decide they are 600 miles northeast of malokai which would put them on the oregon coast ... i think the dislogue was meant to be southwest ... the funniest part of this film is watching the babes put on their camo makeup while wearing white see through tee shirts ... the only reason to watch this film is dona speir's natural double d's ... if you don't lick them i will

The Sequel to Picasso Trigger

[Uriah43 · 4/10 · 27 October 2022]

This film essentially begins with two secret agents named "Donna" (Dona Speir) and "Taryn" (Hope Marie Carlton) getting an assignment to fly some badly needed medical supplies in their small cargo plane in Hawaii to an isolated island in the South Pacific. Unfortunately, in the process of returning back to Hawaii they encounter a terrible storm and are forced to land on an uncharted and seemingly deserted island hundreds of miles off course. Meanwhile, certain members of a terrorist organization have infiltrated an American military operation which is in the process of locating a large shipment of gold that was stolen from the Philippines by the Japanese during World War 2. And as it so happens, the location of this gold has been tracked to the exact same island that both Donna and Taryn were forced to land their cargo plane during the fierce storm. What nobody realizes, however, is that the island isn't quite as deserted as they initially thought--and the sole occupant is a Japanese soldier who had sworn to guard the gold with his life many years ago. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film pretty much follows the same general pattern as all of the previous movies before it with the main emphasis being given to the sex appeal of the two main characters. So, if the viewer is expecting good acting or a plot with any real depth, then they should probably look elsewhere as this film has neither of these qualities. Again, it pretty much follows the same general pattern as the previous films in the series before it. That being said, although it certainly has its flaws, I don't consider this particular installment to be that bad necessarily and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.

Better than usual Sidaris film

[gridoon · 6/10 · 15 September 2006]

"Savage Beach" is probably one of Andy Sidaris' most technically accomplished films. He achieves some beautiful color contrasts and other cinematographic effects here (right from the opening scene, which has a samurai silhouetted against an orange sky). There is perhaps a bit too much exposition in the first half, but the movie really comes alive as soon as Dona Speir and Hope Marie Carlton set foot on the "deserted" island. They both look great in their tank tops and they are (expectedly) in tip-top physical shape. As another reviewer noted, watching them wander around the humid island and wave their guns is a pleasure in itself. And at the end, there is even a dramatic scene! Trivia note: 7 years before Pamela Anderson made the "Don't call me babe" line famous in "Barb Wire", Dona Speir had already said "Don't ever call me a bimbo again" to John Aprea in this film - and I, for one, agree with her! (**1/2)

Fairly straight forward Andy Sidaris movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 13 July 2022]

The 1989 action adventure movie "Savage Beach" from writer and director Andy Sidaris is definitely what you would expect from that writer and director, and it follows the same formula of the previous movies as well, for better or worse. So on that account, you know what you are getting yourself into here.

As I sat down to watch the 1989 movie "Savage Beach", I hadn't seen it before. I remember having seen the movie's poster somewhere, but I never have seen the movie before now in 2022. And I will say that the movie was actually adequate enough. Sure, it was a heap of late 1980s cheesy action, as expected, and that is what makes the movie watchable.

It is nice to see some cast members return to reprise previously portrayed characters again here in this movie, and it makes for some good continuity actually. Not that the acting performances in the movie were award-winning or anything, but I will say that the actors and actresses put on adequate enough performances. And it was a blast to see Al Leong, henching as always, in this movie.

The storyline in "Savage Beach" is pretty straight forward, and was definitely something you would expect from Andy Sidaris. So if you enjoy these type of movies, then you will definitely also like "Savage Beach".

My rating of "Savage Beach" lands on a five out of ten stars.

This is good fun!

[GOWBTW · 9/10 · 13 March 2020]

Many 80's movies are more action oriented than the other decades. The sex appeal is that of 70's films. "Savage Beach" may look gimmicky for some people, but I enjoy this movie very much. Two blonde DEA agents working in Hawaii busting a pineapple distribution for selling more than just pineapples. Then they go to a hospital on the other side of the island to send medical supplies. Then the storm disables the plane to force them to land on a "deserted" island. However, on that part of the island, there is a hidden treasure where two parties are after. And the blonde agents are caught in the middle. Too many people typecast blondes in movies, here, there was no typecasting. There were some TV stars I remember well: Bruce Penhall from the last season of "CHiPs". John Aprea from the first season of "Matt Houston". The actresses are Playboy models. Great action is what this movie has. Didn't disappoint me one bit. A great late night romp. 3.5 out of 5 stars!

What's lost is meant to be found (#4)

[unbrokenmetal · 7/10 · 26 May 2008]

"Savage Beach" has the most unusual story of the Lethal Ladies series. Instead of an over-equipped investigation with a plan, this is more like an accidental adventure. No Las Vegas night clubs or expensive sports-cars - "Savage Beach" plays on a lonely island where a gold treasure was lost in WW II, yet still guarded by an isolated Japanese soldier. Not a new story (I remember "Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure", 1981), but with Sidaris' attention grabbing techniques (from explosions to boobs) it works great. Our heroines, the two pilots Donna (Dona Speir) and Taryn (H.M. Carlton), make an emergency landing on that island after a storm (another rarity: bad weather in a Sidaris movie). More and more sinister characters arrive to make the island unsafe. Al Leong (who later played the helicopter pilot in "Hard Hunted") gets a good role as a tough bad guy. A situation that stuck to my mind is when the Leatherface samurai frees Taryn and explains later: "I can't kill those eyes again" - what a moment of poetry, folks! Oh, and would you believe a bloke who calls Donna "bimbo" survives the next few seconds? This is the 4th out of 12 Sidaris movies I reviewed (in chronological order), and one should note that after 3 successful pictures which he had financed basically from his personal money, Sidaris was offered a deal about 5 more which kept the Lethal Ladies series going. "Savage Beach" surely was an impressive start for this new... uh... pentalogy!

Hope Marie Carlton bids the Sidaris sagas farewell

[udar55 · 10 August 2011]

Donna (Dona Speir) and Taryn (Hope Marie Carlton) are back! After busting some cocaine dealers (who smuggle their stock in pineapples), our busty federal agent duo find themselves delivering a medical serum to an island for Shane Abilene (Michael J. Shane). Yes, another Abilene! Anyway, a storm causes the plane to mess up and they get way off course before landing on a deserted island. They get company quick though when a group shows up to locate some lost Japanese gold. And, of course, there is also some stranded Japanese World War II vet still living on the island. No sure why, but I enjoyed this much more than previous entry PICASSO TRIGGER (1988). Maybe because it was a bit more focused in the plot department, even though it is convoluted as hell. My mind was also reeling as this was my first "wait, who is this guy again" experience with director Andy Sidaris' roving band of players as Rodrigo Obregon is back for a third time as a new villain. Sidaris also capitalized on the Asian influence and cast James Lew and Al Leong is supporting roles. The end is the best with one of the funniest explanations/flashbacks from the Japanese warrior (who has terrible age make up). Naturally, the film is packed with nudity and Sidaris should get credit for what I believe is the world's most gratuitous airplane changing scene. Sadly, this marked the end of the road for Carlton in Sidaris-land and I'm genuinely sad to see the team of Donna and Taryn break up.

SAVAGE BEACH!!!

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 14 May 2019]

Dona and Taryn are back again, this time flying missions as federal drug enforcement agents based in Hawaii. After a successful drug bust, they are asked to fly vaccine from Molokai to Knox Island. However, they soon run afoul of nefarious forces in the Philippine government and some double agents at home looking for a sunken ship from World War II that is loaded with gold.

Meanwhile, a storm forces Donna and Taryn to land their plane on the island where a Japanese soldier and samurai named the warrior still thinks that World War II is going on.

Michael J. Shane shows up as Shane Abilene, the next member of the family to be in a Sidaris film. He's joined by Teri Weigel (April 1986 Playboy Playmate of the Month, adult film star and victim in Predator 2), Al Leong (an Asian actor who continually shows up in films, including Big Trouble in Little China), Lisa London (H.O.T.S.) and making her last Sidaris film appearance, Patty Duffek (May 1984 Playboy Playmate of the Month) who plays Pattycakes for the third time.

None of this makes any sense at all. Are you watching these movies for them to make sense? No. You are watching them to have fun and probably see naked people in hot tubs at least every three minutes. I won't cast any shame on you.

If you like Savage Beach, good news. Eventually, Andy Sidaris makes his way back here. I know I'll be around for that.

More Andy Sidaris fun

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 15 June 2011]

Once again writer/director Andy Sidaris delivers his patented hugely entertaining mix of plentiful yummy gratuitous female nudity, bloody violence, extremely variable acting, big splashy explosions, and rough'n'tumble martial arts fights in this fun tale of federal agents Donna (buxom blonde fox Dona Speir) and Taryn (adorable sprite Hope Marie Carlton), who find themselves trapped on a remote tropical island with a hidden gold treasure on it that's guarded by a mysterious Japanese warrior (well played by Michael Mikasa in cruddy old age make-up). Naturally, a band of vicious no-count villains arrive on the island in search of the gold. Speir and Carlton display a winningly easy'n'breezy natural screen chemistry and, not surprisingly, look spectacular both in and out of their skimpy outfits (a skinny-dipping scene featuring these lovely ladies enjoying a merry frolic in the ocean rates as the definite highlight here). Moreover, Sidaris shows some genuine filmmaking skill with an impressive dramatic flashback sequence towards the end and keeps the plot moving along at a constant snappy pace. John Aprea contributes a solid turn as dashing no-nonsense Captain Andrews, Bruce Penhall makes for a likable male lead as the amiable major Bruce Christian, Rodrigo Obregon snarls it up effectively as the nefarious Martinez, and smoldering brunette porn starlet Teri Weigel steams up the screen with her sultry portrayal of Martinez's enticing moll Angelica. Ubiquitous 80's Fu Mancho dude Al Leong pops up playing one of his trademark nasty baddies, sports a ponytail, and even has a sizable amount of dialogue. Howard Wexler's bright cinematography gives the picture a glimmering sunny look. Gary Stockdale's funky score hits the bumping spot. An enjoyable outing.

Liked it

[maddogthemad · 5 June 2004]

I'm kind of on a Sidaris Marathon this evening. :)

This is the archtypical B movie with gratuitous use of scantily clad, and occasionally unclad women, but it's so typical that it could be considered maybe to define the genre.

It differs mostly in the actual quality of filming, and actual attractiveness of the women acting from the majority of other B's of its type.

It flows very well, so that you never really start to get bored or lulled. For the most part the scenes either make sense to the plot, and move it along or add a different kind of excitement.

Still, of course, only fans of typical B movies, like the kind that push the R rating a little further than mainstream tends to allow, would want to watch it. If you're into that, you'll find this film to be a bit better than average.

Chock full of action and bountiful babes

[lor_ · 1 May 2023]

My review was written in October 1989 after watching the movie at a Times Square screening room.

"Savage Beach" is an entertaining action pic, the third followup film to Andy Sidaris' "Malibu Express". Newest effort should do modestly well in regional theatrical release commencing October 13 in Gotham, ahead of the guaranteed video/cable market.

Lovely blonde thesps Dona Speir and Hope Marie Carlton return for the third time (following "Hard Ticket to Hawaii" and "Picasso Trigger") in their lead roles as government drug enforcement agents who moonlight as air cargo haulers. Returning home from an emergency serum delivery to ailing kiddies on a remote island, they crash land on Knox Island, 600 miles from their Molokai homebase.

Coincidentally, numerous opposing forces are converging on the island in search of a horde of gold stolen by the Japanese from the Philippines and originally lost in 1943 when its transport ship sunk. Among these are U. S. army & navy types, led by John Aprea, a secret CIA infiltrator (Burce Penhall), a pair of Japanese mercenaries plus two communist insurgents from the Philippines (Rorigo Obregon and Teri Weigel).

There is a surprisingly serious subplot, involving a Japanese warrior (Michael Mikasa) still left on the island 46 years later guarding the gold but guilt ridden for having killed defenseless U. S. navy men who washed up on the island. He takes a liking to Carlton and protects her in the ensuing action.

Filmmaker Andy Sidaris ensures that most of the action is campy fun with his oddball dialog and predilection for having the female cast strip in the least likely situations. For equal time to appease women in the audience there is a new, handsome leading man, Michael Shane as Shane Abiliene, nominal leader of the good guys.

Speir is an impressively tough heroine, while Carlton is allowed to show her soft side via the platonic romance with warrior Mikasa. Unfortunately, the wrinkly makeup converting young Mikasa into an ancient WW II vet is unconvincing.

Odd touch has all of the sex scenes devoted to the heavies, as Obregon and smoldering brunette Weigel discuss the "revolution" while bedding down.

Howard Wexler' lensing makes for a colorful package and producer Arlene Sidaris gets a lot of production value on screen within a modest budget. Action fans who favor a tongue-in-cheek approach will enjoy this one.