Severance (2006)
A group of employees of a public arms dealing company venture into Hungary for a team-building retreat. Staying over a lodge that is far from luxurious, they begin to be stalked and picked off by a slasher that has some past concerns with their corporation. SEVERANCE is a horror-comedy that would rather spend more energy on the former than the latter. There are some well-made gore effects, plus some gags to go with them (those afraid of bear traps, beware) but the grimy attitude eventually leads to some peak moments of sadism. One individual's fate, for instance, goes straight into torture porn territory and it severely stuns any fun vibes the film had going. Also, the majority of the humor is front-loaded, leaving the chaotic second half barren or really dull (a climatic gag with a phone call on hold is just anemic). Director/co-writer Christopher Smith tries to liven up the slasher film conventions by implementing some bizarre surreal stunts, often centered around the resident stoner of the group. Though I have big faults with the film, it's still pretty enjoyable for a laugh. It may not be a great companion to the works of Edgar Wright but it's good nonetheless.
FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5
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