Severed (2005)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Severed could have been good. That is, if the director had avoided the temptation to pander to zombie clichés. After what started as an intriguing premise this film actually loses steam when the first zombie appears. The opening sequence which depicts some surprisingly well done footage of the logging industry in full detail was much more interesting than the zombie action that was to follow. Indeed, I was mildly entertained at the serious tone set at the start of the film. Angry protesters, aka tree huggers, lay in ambush for their routine harassment of the weary but resigned lumber workers who try to make their way out of the forest after a hard days work. It's a scene that you intuitively know has played out a thousand times over and thus has a feeling of authenticity.The zombies here are portrayed in a straight-forward manner. Typical make-up, blood and gore. No distinguishing mutations or behaviors. Despite the gratuitous violence there is nothing frightening about the proceedings. No special effects or CGI to liven things or provide a visual spectacle. Just regular people lurching, shaking and growling with make-up on. A by the numbers direct to video genre film with an ambiguous ensemble cast and unique but wasted setting. 4 out of 10 stars.

This was just awful - typical zombie flick with nothing new or exciting or revealing to add. The acting was mostly horrible. The only one who could call himself an actor was the guy who played Mac. Everyone else sounded fake. The script was inconsistent and just boring. The gore was decent, but the whole outpost of men who gave up on escape and was content to do their zombie games was just stupid. The cowardly Carter couldn't get eaten soon enough, but his dialogue was barely believable. I could have watched something worthy of at least 2 stars. This flick isn't even worthy of the zombie genre. It was so lacking in everything - originality, quality performances, decent dialogue or even an attempt at being watchable.

I watched Severed on you-tube, on a Sunday to cure my boredom. Before I started watching the movie, I guessed that it was going to be cheesy and low budget. I was surprised by this movie, 6 out of 10.If your a fan of zombie movies this movie is for you! You don't see to many zombie films taking place in a forest. The film was shot very well and had a good actors. None of the cast is recognizable though. The only thing I had a problem with was that a lot of scenes dragged out, mostly towards the end. The film has a pretty good gore level but not too extreme. The zombies seem pretty legit and well played, good make-up effects.I say check out Severed if you have the time, don't rush though.

I was expecting another straight to DVD turkey, but surprisingly not. Generic storyline but a good original setting with high production values, good acting and good casting. If the plot had a bit more padding or there was a bit more to the story it would be getting close to being quite good. As it is, it felt like it would have made a great X-Files episode similar to the lumberjacks one they did make. Yeah you've seen it all before and yeah the characters do some dumb things, but on the whole it ticks most of the boxes. The zombies in particular are very good, convincing and scary. I've seen better but I've seen much worse. Zombie fans will enjoy