I'm excited to see the horror-comedy Severance finally get a release this Friday. I caught an early preview of this film last fall and was frustrated that I had to wait a half year before I could finally talk to anyone about it. Well now it's here, so let me be the first to say that if you love horror movies, you won't want to miss this one. You aren't likely to find a better mix of chills, laughs, and gore this year.Planning to spend the weekend working on team-building exercises, the employees of Palisade Defense head up to the company's newly acquired mountain lodge. However, once there they realize something isn't right. What are those wooden structures in the trees? Is there a man following them through the woods? And who exactly left those meat pies in the kitchen? It quickly becomes apparent that someone has it out for them, and they must work together like never before if they want to survive the weekend.
Severance right off the bat does two things that make it better than 90% of other horror movies released in recent years: it centers on interesting adults, and it spends a lot of time getting to know them. This makes for a much more satisfying second half when all hell breaks loose, as we are actually invested in their survival. Yet the film doesn't sacrifice thrills for character development - the first half hour is just as tense as the rest of the film, at times more so as we aren't sure what is going on out in those woods. The film also balances the tension out with genuine laughs. There have been a number of comparisons to The Office in the way it presents its characters, and I'd say that's very accurate. Even when people start dying, the deaths can be pretty funny: I don't think I've seen a funnier decapitation in a film.
Perhaps one of the strongest elements of the film is the villain. He is a very realistic character with real motives for his actions, and that makes him all the more frightening. This is the kind of villain that you actually could stumble across on a camping trip. Also, because I walked into this film with no knowledge of what it was, I was unprepared for a startling twist regarding the killer's identity late in the game. I suspect that the trailers for the film have thoroughly spoiled this twist, so I advise you to avoid them if at all possible, as it's a great surprise.
Severance is the best film of its kind since Shaun of the Dead. It alternates between uproarious jokes and shocking thrills with ease, so much so that at times you aren't sure if you should wince or laugh. These days, when every horror film is either a remake or sequel, it's nice to finally find something that is this unique and fun.
