Forget Shaun of the Dead, actually it's very easy to, this is the best British horror-comedy ever made! Really it is!
The
story is basically about a group of co-workers from a weapons firm
going on a team building exercise somewhere in Eastern Europe. When the
boss upsets the coach driver they find themselves left to their own
devices. They find their supposedly "luxury lodge" where they are going
to start doing all the trendy team building nonsense but then sinister
events start happening and people start getting killed...
It
starts off with the kind of humour you'd get in something like The
Office (or one of those trendy Sky One presentations) and then turns
into a fully fledged survival horror film... but still with humour here
and there. It just works. It really shouldn't work but it does!
The
boss figure is played by Percy from Blackadder (Tim McInnerny) who is
also a very credible straight actor so he adds a touch of class to the
proceedings. The "hero", if you can call him that, is the guy from "Is
Harry on the Boat?" (Danny Dyer). I never watched the series or the
film but I vaguely know who he is and he always plays the same kind of
character. He was suitably funny and laddish throughout and I enjoyed
his performance even if I didn't totally like his "stoner" character.
There
are some really funny scenes which I believe American reviewers call
"Gross Out Comedy" nowadays. It just shows the thin line between
vicious horror and vicious humour is even thinner than you realise.
Well, the makers of MASH realised that years ago but this is a British
film and it really does everything perfectly. The comedy is funny and
the horror is horrific. It's true horror-comedy not a light mix of each.
From the credits I believe the film was made in Hungary and on the Isle of Man. Why not just in one place? I have no idea.
The
two Hungarian escorts in the film are suitably gorgeous so there's
really nothing for me to complain about in this film at all... except I
wish it had been longer.
It was funny, gory, nasty, realistic,
and silly all wrapped up together. It's a cross-genre horror-comedy
classic. And you can quote me on that one!
(5 comment(s) published)
Oddtopsy said .......
yeah the britts really have the finger on the pulse of what works both in horror and dry humor. between Shaun, Severance, and the upcomming Fido. i'm just excited ! Jun 6, 2007, 7:11 am
Gunslinger said .......
I was invited to screen this tonight in LA, but can't make it, anyone else going tonight? Apr 30, 2007, 5:44 pm
FatallyYours said .......
Can't wait to check this one out! Apr 25, 2007, 8:11 pm
Faust said .......
Ouch! Where is the Wright/Pegg/Frost love?
Severance looks really good. I'm interested in checking it out. Apr 25, 2007, 7:08 pm
Gunslinger said .......
You see, this is already working. Now I want to see this movie. Thanks! Apr 25, 2007, 3:47 pm
