Post by tav7623 on Mar 21, 2010 22:53:23 GMT -5
Hey everyone tav here with part 2 of my British Horror Comedy double feature review of the film Severance. This film is written by James Moran (this is Moran's first feature length script and is best known in the UK for his writing duties on tv shows Doctor Who and it's spinoff series Torchwood) and directed by Christopher Smith who's other genre films include the 2004 film Creep and the 2009 film Triangle. The film stars Toby Stephens who is best known as Gustav Graves in the James Bond film Die Another Day, Laura Harris, Andy Nyman (Dead Set), Tim McInnerny, David Gilliam, and Danny Dyer. The film is about the European Sales division of weapons manufacturer Palisade Defense who are off to the mountains of Hungary for a weekend team building exorcise, but instead end up being ditched by their driver after an argument with the head of the division Richard(McInnerny) . Shortly after finding what they think is the lodging their boss George (Gilliam) has set up for them for the weekend they end up being hunted by a masked killer.
Pros: Practical Effects, even distribution of comedy and horror, decent acting, a few funny moments/lines ( character jumping on a diving board over a pool full of leaves and later showing up covered in leaves, "you FOUND a pie".....don't get it?.......watch this film and you will ......., and one of my favorite lines from this film "English birds ain't complicated. You buy 'em a Bacardi Breezer and they'll ride you like Sea Biscuit. "), decent editing, and use of music (not as annoying and obvious as The Cottage).
Cons: some trippy scenes in the first half where you don't know if some of the characters are tripping (one character takes mushrooms) or dreaming (one character has a nightmare in which they go into the room where the hot chick of the bunch is staying and she asks him to fuck her but when he gets closer it's Gustav Graves wearing a blond wig...the character proceeds to stab him before we find out its not real), and some bad acting.
Overall I give this film a 7 out of 10 for having a good balance between comedy and horror, some decent acting, decent special effects, interesting/ trippy scenes, and homages to Shaun of the Dead ( mimics a scene from the end of SotD where Shaun and Liz sit down and each light up a cigarette) , Dr. Strangelove (weapon reference and same end credits song) , and Psycho ( the stabbing scene is mimicked in nightmare scene). This film is not as over the top cartoony as The Cottage, is a bit more subtle as well, and is just as solid as The Cottage when it comes to the horror elements of the film. I would definitely recommend this film to people who enjoy British cinema and if it came down to a choice between watching this or The Cottage, I would recommend watching this film over The Cottage.
Well I hope you enjoyed my British Horror Comedy double feature and I will be taking a short break from posting my weekly reviews on the forums.
Pros: Practical Effects, even distribution of comedy and horror, decent acting, a few funny moments/lines ( character jumping on a diving board over a pool full of leaves and later showing up covered in leaves, "you FOUND a pie".....don't get it?.......watch this film and you will ......., and one of my favorite lines from this film "English birds ain't complicated. You buy 'em a Bacardi Breezer and they'll ride you like Sea Biscuit. "), decent editing, and use of music (not as annoying and obvious as The Cottage).
Cons: some trippy scenes in the first half where you don't know if some of the characters are tripping (one character takes mushrooms) or dreaming (one character has a nightmare in which they go into the room where the hot chick of the bunch is staying and she asks him to fuck her but when he gets closer it's Gustav Graves wearing a blond wig...the character proceeds to stab him before we find out its not real), and some bad acting.
Overall I give this film a 7 out of 10 for having a good balance between comedy and horror, some decent acting, decent special effects, interesting/ trippy scenes, and homages to Shaun of the Dead ( mimics a scene from the end of SotD where Shaun and Liz sit down and each light up a cigarette) , Dr. Strangelove (weapon reference and same end credits song) , and Psycho ( the stabbing scene is mimicked in nightmare scene). This film is not as over the top cartoony as The Cottage, is a bit more subtle as well, and is just as solid as The Cottage when it comes to the horror elements of the film. I would definitely recommend this film to people who enjoy British cinema and if it came down to a choice between watching this or The Cottage, I would recommend watching this film over The Cottage.
Well I hope you enjoyed my British Horror Comedy double feature and I will be taking a short break from posting my weekly reviews on the forums.