Severance (2006)

One of the worst movies I've ever seen

Lack of good storyline.

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

SEVERANCE is nothing new. I'll admit that from the outset. Its thrills, spills, and chills are a jumble of themes, with references to THE EVIL DEAD and DELIVERANCE in the plotting and scenes straight out of HOSTEL amongst other films. There's nothing you haven't seen here before. Instead, this is part of a modern sub-genre of British cinema which throws a group of people into an isolated natural setting and gives them an enemy to battle. We had soldiers vs. werewolves in DOG SOLDIERS; cavers vs. mutants in THE DESCENT and juvenile delinquents vs. a maniac in WILDERNESS. SEVERANCE, with its tale of office workers battling Eastern European criminals in the woods, fits easily into this mould. It doesn't really try hard to be anything else or to offer much in the way of surprise. But I loved it to bits anyway.The script is a definite plus, offering a ton of black comedy mixed in with the horror. Scenes such as the bear trap sequence are a perfect mix of laughs and chills, and the gore level in this movie is spot on. My favourite moment is the smiling severed head, one of the best jokes I've seen done in a comic horror. It's little touches like this which make the film that much more enjoyable – the rocket launcher moment is another nice surprise. The action is well-handled and the traditional pacing, with a slow build-up and frenetic climax, works a treat. Another big highlight is the cast. I don't care much for Danny Dyer but even he does well in this one, what with his magic mushroom ride. Laura Harris is another in a long line of ass-kicking heroines, while Toby Stephens shows why it's wrong to typecast him as a villain. Tim McInnerny is also outstanding as the stuffy boss. SEVERANCE won't set the world alight, and it's occasionally lazy in its plotting, but for the most part it's an engaging little movie, and one you can watch more than once.

Danny Dyer. The name conjures up images of some of the greatest films set to grace the big screen of all time. Yeah... right. His films (post 'The Business' and that one about football hooligans that was kind of similar to the one Frodo was in have hardly set the Box Office ablaze). However, somehow he still gets works. And for a good reason – no matter how bad his films get, we – the people – still seem to watch them.And that's just the bad ones! 'Severence' is actually pretty good. So, er, we have a group of people (including Mr Dyer) on a trip to somewhere remote (do you care?) where they get picked off one by one. Yeah, it's basically a 'slasher' movie only with white-collar office workers (if you can believe that Danny Dyer would ever be employed by any self respecting office) instead of dumb, blonde, American teenagers (although I should mention that one of Danny's co-workers is actually American and blonde – I wouldn't dare say 'dumb').So, if you've seen one slasher film then you've basically seen them all – including this. Just don't take it as an excuse not to indulge. Yes, it's nothing new, but it sure is fun. The dialogue is snappy and the characters fun to watch. And, if that's not enough, you have the gore. Again, for a low budget film with no stars (sorry, Danny – no offence, but you're hardly Tom Cruise) the gore is nicely done and pretty sick (special mention to a missing leg scene).And, if nothing else, there is possibly the most amusing use even of a rocket launcher (if not the sickest – technically) that even rivals the RPG fired in Chris Morris' 'Four Lions.' Don't expect a great movie with Oscar-worthy performances, or self-realising character arcs. Basically, if you like daft, cheesy slasher films then you should enjoy this. And if you also appreciate Danny Dyer's 'acting' abilities then you'll get double for your money.

Severance is a gory film with some fairly intense horror but it's also very funny. The actors which include Toby Stephens, Laura Harris, Danny Dyer and Tim Mcinnerny all seem to be enjoying themselves playing memorable roles as work colleagues who find themselves in a desperate situation. This film is a rare comedy/ horror that works as both and can join Shaun of the Dead, Evil Dead 2 and American Werewolf in London for successfully managing to both scare and be funny. Severance is entertaining from beginning to end and very rewatchable.An all-round stimulating thrill ride: gore, thrills, suspense, "whodunnit", laughs and fine acting from all the cast. A rare movie that actually manages to keep its audience interested throughout its duration. You really can't blink or you may miss a laugh or scare! A solid popcorn flick, best watched late at night, lights down.You shall be Entertained!

Good old team building exercises. The sales team gets sent to do some paintballing in a forest setting and after some amusing fallings out, inter-personal problems, and displays of dysfunctionality, that thing happens which is the worst thing which can happen on team building jaunts. Yes, you've got it - a man trap cuts off the leg of one of the members. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, someone kills their driver, chops the head off another team member, sets fire to... you get the picture.Severance, like From Dusk To Dawn, starts off in one genre and switches to another half way through. In both cases, the part-films work: the first half is genuinely funny and the second half (last man standing slasher movie) is violent, bloody and suspenseful.Weird but, of its odd kind, not at all bad.