Severence: Reviewed by BRYAN SCHUESSLER

Director Christopher Smith did a very nice job of balancing the horror and black comedic elements in Severance (2006). I enjoyed this film and have noticed that a large number of films that have been put out by Magnolia Pictures have been very good films.

With a large number of horror films having cliche plots and scripts, or just remakes of foreign fare (why can’t Americans just quit being lazy and read subtitles in films!!!) that have American casts that speak English with the same plot and ideas as the original (unless you mix it up like Rob Zombie does!), I am happy to see fresh ideas incorporated into these darker comedy horror films. It works well for the film. Severance takes the idea of having a company send their sales team up to some remote woods in Hungary to work on team-building.

This may be a stretch, but it reminded me of Hostel, just the Eastern European feel to it…The film was filled with humor and it had some really nice gore in it. I felt the acting was decent and it had a nice assortment of characters and personalities. My favorite scene in the movie is when they are all gathered around the dinner table and throwing ideas and stories out as to what their company was involved in years ago and what the “cabin/resort” was used for. I felt the film’s pace was perfect and the dialogue kept me interested through-out when their was not bloodshed or suspense happening.

Director Smith has also directed Creep (2004), starring Franka Potente ( I love her!!!)and Triangle (2009) which is in post-production