Severance (2006)

Director:

Christopher Smith

Writers:

James Moran (screenplay) and
Christopher Smith (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 August 2006 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Another bloody office outing.

Plot:

A team-building weekend in the mountains of Eastern Europe goes horribly wrong for the sales division...

Plot Keywords:

Eastern Europe | Team Building | Flamethrower | Shot To Death | Torture

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Toby Stephens	...	Harris
Claudie Blakley	...	Jill
Andy Nyman	...	Gordon
Babou Ceesay	...	Billy
Tim McInnerny	...	Richard
Laura Harris	...	Maggie
Danny Dyer	...	Steve
David Gilliam	...	George
Juli Drajkó	...	Olga
Judit Viktor	...	Nadia
Sándor Boros	...	Coach Driver
Levente Törköly	...	Lodge Killer
János Oláh	...	Flamethrower Killer
Attila Ferencz	...	Head-squish Killer
Bela Kasi	...	Headbutt Killer

Also Known As:

P45 (UK) (working title)
Severance - Ein blutiger Betriebsausflug (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language, drug content and some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

96 min | Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English | Hungarian | Russian

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:18 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:18 | France:-12 (with warning) | Malaysia:(Banned) | USA:R | Finland:K-18 | Argentina:18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Italy:VM18 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | New Zealand:R16 | Netherlands:16 | Italy:VM14 (DVD)

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Company:

Dan Films

Trivia:

Danny Dyer spent 10 weeks toning up in the gym prior to shooting.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the land-mine that Richard is stepping from explodes you can clearly see that the explosion of it takes place in a completely different place in the forest (tree on the left side of the screen which wasn't there before, the soldiers balancing over the horizontal-tree are completely gone together with the tree from the screen, as well already before the explosion takes place).

Quotes:

Gordon: Shall I make a cup of tea?

Movie Connections:

References First Blood (1982)

Soundtrack:

Stars and Stripes Forever

A totally brilliant film

Severance shows us a happy tendency:a European filmmaker who takes the clichés of North American horror films and he gives them an excellent new twist with ingenious moments,intensity and touches of humor.The director who made this great movie is Christopher Smith who started pretty well with the very fun and gory film Creep and,now,gives us Severance,a perfect movie with fun characters,black humor and a social critic.This film can be described as a twist between the TV series The Office(the British version)and The Hills Have Eyes(1977).I know it sounds strange,but the screenplay sails greatly between the horrors of the office work,the black humor and the horror.The movie has a political commentary and it gives the movie a bigger context.Although the basic premise does not sound original,the performances,context and a lot of details give new life to a very used concept(including the great appearance of a bear).I also admire the main characters are not the typical teenagers,but a realistic group of clerks.The reactions the characters have with the horror are credible and fun.Also,the movie brings some intense moments of violence which could really keep me anxious and nervous...and that's something awesome for a horror film.Severance is a brilliant and very fun horror movie with great moments of intensity and black humor.If you are a fan of horror movies,you should not miss this joy which shows the genre on its best condition.