Title: Severance
Starring: Laura Harris, Danny Dyer, Tim McInnerny, David Gilliam (II), Toby Stephens
Directed By: Chris Smith (VI)
Produced By: Michael Kuhn, Jason Newmark, Finola Dwyer
Genre: Art/Foreign, Comedy and Suspense/Horror
Release Date: May 18th, 2007 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language, drug content and some sexuality/nudity.
Distributors: Magnolia Pictures
Severance is a horror comedy that has been unjustly compared to Shaun of the Dead. While both films make fun of the horror genre, Severance isn't so much a parody as it is a tongue in cheek look at the slasher film. Seven employees of the Palisade Defence company are taken on a teamwork building retreat in the mountains of Hungary, or is it Budapest? Anyways, a detour forces them to stay at the wrong Lodge. Now, they think they are in the right place but they aren't. And that is when things begin to go wrong. Bear traps, pitfalls, minefields and maniacs await them.
I went into Severance knowing nothing. I hadn't seen a trailer, read a synopsis or even looked at a cast list. So this may be a better review than most as I had absolutely no expectations at all. From the first scene of a masked man with a machete chasing two half naked women and a man through the woods reminiscent of the Friday The 13th films, Severance takes it's first stab (groan) at the slasher films. Filled with stereotypes of both office workers and victims in slasher movies (In the same people, no less!), you had better check your brain at the door.
Let me just make a list of things about this movie because I can't seem to find the flowing fountain of words that would be best to describe Severance in a most flattering and prolific way.
First – The film is slightly confusing as to who the protagonist(s) are. Is it lunatics from the asylum turned lodge? Or is it remnant Russian war criminals fearing discovery and just trying to survive? Don't worry, it is resolved but you are wondering about it for a bit.
Second – Humor, some good, some not so good but none really bad. Examples (Note if you don't want to read descriptions of complete scenes, skip this part) Chick is tied to a tree, Flamethrower Killer (I swear, that's how he is credited!) pours gasoline over her. Tries to light a match, match goes out, tries another, same thing, tries another, same thing. Cut to slightly relieved woman, cut to killers back, he slowly turns around holding a flamethrower. Another gruesomely funny scene is when one guy steps on a bear trap and two others are trying to pry it open. They keep slipping and the trap slams shut four times, finally severing his leg. Hope that is enough examples of the sick humor that is in this film. I have at least one more that I wanted to share with you but to me it is one of the best in the film and I don't want to let all of the cats out.
Third – Casting, only person I have even heard of is Laura Harris, whom I last saw in Habitat and The Faculty. She plays Maggie. She reminded me of Anna Faris in the Scary Movie movies in that she seems to be the catalyst and the only non-stereotype in the cast. Danny Dyer is the funniest of the bunch as the stoner dude Steve, who spends most of the movie either on mushrooms, stoned or on Ecstasy. Some of his high points (pun intended) is being led around on a leash by Harris so he doesn't get lost, seeing multiple versions of himself while tripping, and tries to stuff the aforementioned severed leg into a mini fridge.
Fourth – Cinematography. My regular readers know how much I hate the shakycam and it's overuse. I am proud to say that if it was used at all in this movie, I didn't notice it. And to me that's a good thing. Kind of like a good haircut. If you don't notice that someone got one, then that means it's a good one.
OK, OK, get to the recommendation already! Would I recommend it? I could go either way on this one. While not as hilarious as Shaun of the Dead, Severance is a different type of horror humor. I liked it because for the most part, it wasn't dumb humor. Granted, opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one, but I do plan on renting it on DVD. But will you enjoy it? I don't really know. I can tell you that I learned a few things from this movie. If your company offers you a teamwork building retreat, skip it. But, if you must go, make sure the bus driver speaks your language. I'll bet if he did, this situation would never have come to pass and everybody would be much happier campers (again, pun intended).
Emerson out!
Keep reading,
Mitch E.
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
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