Julian RuncanSeverance: A Cut Above
July 12th 2010 19:29
Severance managed to do what I feel most horror-comedies are incapable of: balance. It's not some parody film that makes fun of the horror genre, but a legitimate slasher film that features some quality black comedy. I don't mean black comedy a la Chris Rock or Tyler Perry, but the sort of humor that can be found in movies like Fargo.
I was concerned that the characters would just be cheap rip-offs from The Office, but there was a good mix of personalities that wasn't too clichéd. The film has a lot of fun toying with familiar conventions and usurping them, which leaves the audience in a pretty unique position. We're presented with familiar horror film scenarios, but Severance switches between giving into the obvious or making fun of it, that we're left wondering what will happen next. A big advantage in a keeping a horror flick fun.
Unlike most horror comedies, this film doesn't shy away from various splatter effects. The blood flows, the deaths get gruesome, and things get pretty intense in some parts. Some might complain that the film wasn't light-hearted enough but I feel that the tone really worked in the film's favor.
If you like horror films, dry subtle humor, and films like The Evil Dead franchise, you should get a kick out of Severance. It isn't laugh out loud funny, it isn't crap your pants scary, but it was a fun film experience that I dug quite a bit.
7.5/10
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