Severance

(2006)

directed by Christopher Smith

reviewed by Jonathan Rocks

11.13.2007

Sometimes advertising can taint the expectations of moviegoers before they've even seen a film. The tag line for "Severance" reads: "Its The Office meets Deliverance." Not only does that set the bar awfully high for the film, but it also makes it sound pretty derivative. And hey, what about those people who don't particularly like "The Office" or have never even heard of "Deliverance?" Such is the case with "Severance" which, despite the marketing, is actually a very original, well-written thriller.

The film follows a group of office workers who embark on a team building retreat in the mountains of Eastern Europe. However, these people don't work in just any old office; they're employees of Palisade Defense, one of the biggest weapons manufacturers in the world (think Halliburton). Without giving away any major plot points, the idea behind the story is that someone or something wants these employees to pay for the sins of their company, and they must try to survive on their own in the middle of nowhere, with no means of calling for help.

Comparing "Severance" to other films/TV shows truly does it a disservice, especially in terms of its originality. The script is intelligent and funny, yet the levity never undermines the elements of horror and suspense that make this a pretty thrilling film. This is a quality horror film that got somewhat lost in a market that is often flooded with mediocre films.

Score: 4 out of 5

Buy this DVD at Amazon: SEVERANCE