In case you missed it … ‘Severance’

Severance (2006) was directed by Christopher Smith (Creep) and tells the story of a group of Palisade Defense employees being led out into the Hungarian woods for a team-building retreat. The corporate bus almost arrives, but the driver stops and insists that he will drive no further, arguing with the employee’s boss, then leaves the group stranded on the road. The employee’s reluctantly follow their idiot boss to what he believes to be the company’s newly acquired lodge. Once they arrive, it turns out to be an old dilapidated building. The group attempts to make the best of a rotten situation, but things are only beginning to get worse as members of their group begins to get picked off by some unknown killer.

Essentially a slasher film, Severance also incorporates a subtle but effective dark humor that carries just under the surface, causing the audience to snicker at scenes that ought to be horrifying. In the opening sequences, the score takes on an almost cartoonish juxtapotion to the events occurring on screen, setting the mood for the entire film. The story maintains a sense of seriousness until someone is in danger of being killed. Then the dialogue and atmosphere shift nearly unnoticed into a twisted sort of black comedy. The action and suspense are well done and the cinematography adds a sort of environmental character to the film.

Severance isn’t the best movie of its type, but it is enjoyable. I found the new American slasher-style, combined with the Shallow Grave dialect of dark humor, to offer a fresh look at the genre. Then, after you’ve finished watching the movie, you can enjoy the DVD extras which are rather plentiful.

DVD Features:

• Feature Commentary, with virtually everyone involved in the film.
• The Genesis of Severance, a very short featurette.
• The Making of Severance, a much more satisfying documentary featurette.
• Behind the Scenes footage
• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes
• Alternate Ending Storyboards
• Palisade Corporate Video
• and several more small docu-featurettes …