Severance (2006)

Director:

Christopher Smith

Writers:

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

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:

Forest | Shot In The Chest | Gasoline | Torture | Wetting Pants

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
Roland Kollárszky	...	Knife-in-butt Killer
Péter Katona	...	Stone Thrower Killer
Levente Lezsák	...	Landmine Killer
Nick Greenall	...	Big Gun Killer
Matthew Baker	...	Nose-feratu (as Matt Baker)
Steve Dawson	...	Guard 1 in Harris' Story
John Frankish	...	Doctor John 'Victor' Frankish in Jill's Story
Johnnie Schinas	...	Long-Haired Girl in Richard's Dream
Leon MacPherson	...	Corporate Video Palisade Worker
Arnold Zarom	...	Corporate Video Palisade Worker
Laura Bushell	...	Corporate Video Office Blonde
John Cole	...	Corporate Video Office Blonde
Murray Golding	...	Corporate Video Office Blonde
Jamie Higgins	...	Corporate Video Office Blonde
Nerys Martin	...	Corporate Video Office Blonde
Stephanie Ratcliff	...	Corporate Video Office Blonde
Cindi Svensson	...	Corporate Video Office Blonde
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Craig Hudson	...	Coachman (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher Smith

Writing credits
James Moran		(screenplay) and
Christopher Smith		(screenplay)
James Moran		(story)

Produced by
Alexandra Arlango	....	co-producer
Steve Christian	....	executive producer
Finola Dwyer	....	producer: Qwerty Films
Andrew Hildebrand	....	co-producer: Qwerty Films
Michael Kuhn	....	executive producer
Jason Newmark	....	producer
Malcolm Ritchie	....	co-executive producer
Rosa Romero	....	line producer
Jill Tandy	....	co-executive producer
Colleen Woodcock	....	co-producer: Qwerty Films
Mark Wooley	....	co-producer: Qwerty Films

Original Music by
Christian Henson

Cinematography by
Ed Wild

Film Editing by
Stuart Gazzard

Casting by
William Davies
Gail Stevens

Production Design by
John Frankish

Set Decoration by
Zsuzsa Mihalek

Costume Design by
Stephen Noble

Makeup Department
Noémi Czakó	....	dailies makeup artist: Hungary (as Noemi Czako)
Richard Darwin	....	makeup effects supervisor
Neill Gorton	....	makeup effects designer
Martina Hawkins	....	makeup effects crew
Judit Jánosi	....	dailies makeup artist: Hungary
Kajtar 'Bogyo' Janosne	....	dailies makeup artist: Hungary (as Kajtár Jánosne Bogyó)
Ely Jim	....	dailies makeup artist: London
Matthew O'Toole	....	makeup effects supervisor (as Matt O'Toole)
Jan Sewell	....	hair designer
Jan Sewell	....	makeup designer
Lesley Smith	....	makeup artist
Anna Tesner	....	makeup artist
Lauren Wellman	....	makeup effects crew
Keith Wilson	....	makeup effects crew

Production Management
Ferenc Béres	....	production manager: Hungary
Cass Marks	....	production manager: Isle of Man
Sarah Shepherd	....	unit manager: Isle of Man
László Sipos	....	production supervisor: Hungary
Gábor Ujházy	....	production manager: Hungary (as Újházy Gábor)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Baker	....	first assistant director
Matthew Baker	....	second assistant director (as Matt Baker)
Melanie Dicks	....	first assistant director
Kerric Macdonald	....	second unit director
Dénes Sajgál	....	third assistant director
Andrea Slater	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Nurey Al-Kahzrajie	....	stand-by props: Isle of Man (as Nurey Alkahzrajie)
Tihamér Antal	....	construction stand-by: Hungary
György Bátonyi	....	assistant art director: Hungary
Sally Black	....	art department buyer: Isle of Man
Richard Campling	....	storyboard artist
Bob Charlton	....	carpenter: Isle of Man
Caroline Cobbold	....	art director: Isle of Man
Lisa Collins	....	painter: Isle of Man
Steve Dawson	....	stand-by carpenter: Isle of Man
Csaba Drótos	....	construction stand-by: Hungary
James Fennessy	....	painter: Isle of Man
Jonathan Foster	....	carpenter: Isle of Man
Tibor Sziki Gál	....	props: Hungary (as Tibor Gál)
Gyula Herjeczki	....	construction manager: Hungary
Meike Maher	....	graphic artist: Isle of Man
Louise Marzaroli	....	supervising art director: Hungary
Dan Maslen	....	storyboard artist
Spencer Mead	....	prop master: Isle of Man
Zsuzsa Mihalek	....	set decorator: Hungary
Jim Mulvany	....	carpenter: Isle of Man
László Németh	....	construction stand-by: Hungary
Edward Oldham	....	dailies props: Isle of Man
Susan Ross	....	painter: Isle of Man
Piroska Szabady	....	art director: Hungary
Zoltán Szabó	....	assistant set decorator: Hungary
Lucinda Thomson	....	art director: Isle of Man
John Thorpe	....	construction manager: Isle of Man
István Tímár	....	props: Hungary
Zoltán Tóth	....	assistant construction manager: Hungary

Sound Department
Nick Baldock	....	sound effects editor
Peter Baldock	....	supervising sound editor
Antony Brown	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
Paul Cotterell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rick Dunford	....	dialogue editor
Michael Feinberg	....	adr editor
Adele Fletcher	....	assistant sound editor
Sean Hannah	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Sue Harding	....	foley artist
Joe Henson	....	sound designer
John Lewis	....	sound maintenance
Alexandros Sidiropoulos	....	foley recordist
Michael Spencer	....	sound

Special Effects by
Richard Darwin	....	animatronic model designer
Attila Török	....	pyrotechnician

Visual Effects by
Phil Attfield	....	visual effects supervisor
Tamsin Blanchard	....	visual effects producer
Lee Clappison	....	assistant colourist
James Clarke	....	visual effects
Stefan Drury	....	visual effects producer: LipSync Post
William Foxwell	....	digital lab operator: Lip Sync Post (as Will Foxwell)
Simon Frame	....	visual effects supervisor
Scott Goulding	....	digital lab operator
Katja Hollmann	....	associate producer: Lipsync Post (as Katja Lazare)
Isaac Layish	....	digital effects artist
Alasdair MacCuish	....	senior producer: Lipsync Post
Tom Pegg	....	digital effects artist
Daniel Tomlinson	....	digital lab operator
Howard Watkins	....	visual effects supervisor: LipSync Post
Angela Rose	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Kata Gellen	....	stunt double
László Imre	....	stunt double (as Laszlo Imre)
Erzsébet Szloboda	....	stunt double
Béla Unger	....	stunt coordinator
Sándor Boros	....	stunt actor (uncredited)
Sándor Boros	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Roland Kollárszky	....	stunts (uncredited)
Levente Lezsák	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gyula Balogh	....	dailies spark: Hungary
Gyula Balogh	....	electrician
Csaba Bankhardt	....	key grip
Barnaby Crocker	....	assistant camera: "b" camera, Isle of Man (as Barny Crocker)
István Csehy	....	electrician: Isle of Man (as István Csehi)
John Devine	....	dailies spark: Isle of Man
Charlie Dillion	....	dailies rigger: Isle of Man (as Charlie Dillon)
Zsolt Fehér	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Steve Foster	....	dailies electrician: Isle of Man
Matt Fox	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Károly Gál	....	best boy (as Károly Gaál)
Dávid Gerencsér	....	unit base technician: Hungary
Gergely Hajba	....	video assistant
David Harrison	....	dailies rigger: London
Rupert Hornstein	....	dailies focus puller: Isle of Man (as Rupert Horstein)
Róbert Horváth	....	unit base technician: Hungary
Miklós Izsó	....	unit base technician: Hungary
Zsolt Jámbor	....	grip: Hungary
Tamás Krausz	....	electrician
Rick Loughlin	....	dailies spark: Isle of Man (as Rick Loghlin)
Gavin MacArthur	....	assistant camera: "a" camera
Gábor Marczi	....	unit base technician: Hungary
Miklós Molnár	....	electrician: Isle of Man
Tamas Nyerges	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Tamás P. Nyerges)
Tamas Nyerges	....	steadicam operator (as Tamás P. Nyerges)
Tim O'Connor	....	dailies electrician: London
Tomas Rozler	....	genny operator: Hungary (as Tomas Rözler)
Roland Safr	....	generator operator
Richárd Szeidermann	....	electrician: Hungary (as Richard Szeiderman)
József Szücs	....	dailies spark: Hungary (as Jozsef Szücs)
Rudolf Takacs	....	gaffer (as Rudolf Takács)
Karelle Walker	....	dailies camera assistant: London
Ádám Wallner	....	assistant camera: "b" camera, Hungary
Nick Wall	....	still photographer
Frankie Webster	....	dailies rigger: London

Casting Department
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Tamás Kertész	....	extras casting
David Wheal	....	casting assistant
Linda Zsombolyay	....	casting: Hungary (as Linda Zsombolyai)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melinda Domán	....	dresser
Anikó Fazekas	....	dailies costume: Hungary
Mari Havasi	....	dailies costume: Hungary
Laura Johnson	....	assistant costume designer
Nat Turner	....	costume assistant: London
Joanna Weaving	....	costume breakdown (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Laura Bushell	....	post-production secretary
Stuart Fyvie	....	digital colorist
Nick Greenall	....	first assistant editor
Lisa Jordan	....	post-production coordinator: Lipsync Post
Kevin Phelan	....	head of post-production: Lip Sync Post

Music Department
Matt Biffa	....	music supervisor
Adam Evans	....	musician: guitar, mandolin, banjo and ukulele
Joe Henson	....	music programmer
Seanine Joyce	....	orchestrator
Seanine Joyce	....	score preparation
Richard Todman	....	music editor
Alison Wright	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Ferenc Béres	....	transportation captain
Zsoit Borostyán	....	unit driver: Hungary (as Zsolt Borostyán)
David Callister	....	unit driver: Isle of Man
Malcolm Corlett	....	head driver: Isle of Man
Ken Crellin	....	unit driver: Isle of Man
László Dárdai	....	unit driver: Hungary
József Hernádi	....	unit driver: Hungary
Wayne Moran	....	special effects driver: Isle of Man
Henrik Szabó	....	motorhome keeper: Hungary
Béla Takács	....	unit driver: Hungary
Mark Turner	....	special effects driver: Isle of Man
Brian Wilson	....	unit driver: Isle of Man
Craig Hudson	....	driver: coach (uncredited)

Other crew
Eva Badacsonyi	....	floor runner (as Éva Badacsonyi)
Gabriella Bathó	....	translator: Hungary (as Gabriella Batho)
Ritchie Beacham-Paterson	....	producer: LipSync Post
Ferenc Béres	....	location manager
Michelle Brereton	....	production runner: Isle of Man
Mark Burfield	....	caterer: Isle of Man
Kofi Burke	....	production accountant: Qwerty Films
Laura Bushell	....	production secretary
James Clarke	....	digital laboratory supervisor
Ágota Csuka	....	production secretary: Hungary
Béla Dévényi	....	catering manager: Hungary (as Koko Dévényi)
Peter Eardley	....	assistant production accountant
David Flynn	....	caterer: Isle of Man
József Gerencsér	....	key technician
Steve Gibson	....	head of facilities: Isle of Man
Zsófi Gonda	....	floor runner (as Zsófia Gonda)
Márk Herjeczki	....	floor runner: Hungary (as Márk Herjeckzy)
Michael Howard	....	caterer: Isle of Man
Josh Hyams	....	production coordinator
Clare Jarboe	....	production assistant
Gary Jenkins	....	head of facilities: Isle of Man
Krisztina Kelemen	....	script supervisor
Ildiko Kemeny	....	production associate (as Ildikó Kemény)
Balázs Kovács	....	extras coordinator
Imre Légmán	....	assistant location manager: Hungary
Gyula Molnár	....	location scout: Hungary
Zsuzsa Mráv	....	caterer: Hungary
Keeley Naylor	....	unit publicist
William Prouty	....	assistant to director and producer
Joel Quinn	....	runner: London
Mike Reaney	....	production assistant: Isle of Man (as Michael Reaney)
Maxine Stanley	....	post-production accountant
Trevor Stanley	....	production accountant
Kerry Stringer	....	location assistant: Isle of Man
Sian Sutherland	....	location manager: Isle of Man
Niall Trask	....	runner
Jószef Vigh	....	caterer: Hungary
Megan Ward	....	production assistant
Toth Zsuzsa	....	production coordinator: Hungary (as Zsuzana Tóth)
Katie Kubert	....	pre-production intern (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dan Films
• HanWay Films
• Isle of Man Film
• N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG
• Qwerty Films
• UK Film Council

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Christal Films (2006) (Canada) (all media)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• HanWay Films (2006) (worldwide) (all media)
• Icon Film Distribution (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• La Fabrique de Films (2006) (France) (all media)
• Magnolia Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Sweden (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Millennium FX (special makeup effects)
• Men From Mars (digital visual effects)
• Lip Sync Post (additional digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• Anvil Post Production  foley recording
• Art4noise  post-production facilities
• Art4noise  sound post-production
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies/mobiles
• Concorde Film Trust  funding
• Lip Sync Post  digital intermediate
• Lip Sync Post  sound re-recording
• Lip Sync Post  titles and opticals
• Soho Images  film laboratory services

Also Known As:

P45 (UK) (working title)

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA (2007) | Argentina:18 | UK:15 | France:-12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Ireland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Germany:18 | Italy:VM14 | Malaysia:(Banned) | USA:R | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | Norway:18 | Finland:K-18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva)

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Company:

Dan Films

Trivia:

Released in Spain as a double feature with Black Sheep (2006/I)

Goofs:

Continuity: When everyone gets off the coach after it stops at the fallen tree, dark vehicle tracks have appeared in front of the coach which weren't there in previous shots.

Quotes:

Gordon: [Steve is eating magic mushrooms, the coach sharply stops] Anyone need first aid?
Steve: I might do in about 20 minutes...

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Soundtrack:

We'll Meet Again

Not really any spoilers to worry about. Severance is both fun and gruesome!

For the better part of a decade every British comedy or romance was hailed as 'The funniest film since Four Weddings and a Funeral'. Although there are many Brit films made in any year worth a look, only one will truly be mass marketed and labelled as our best export. With Four Weddings' a distant memory, anything remotely amusing or linked with horror is now wrongly compared to Shaun of the Dead (or possibly Dog Soldiers). Poster quotes and lazy comparisons aside, it's nice surprise that for a horror comedy, Severance isn't actually half bad at all.

The plot is nice and simple. A (predominantly English) sales division working for a multinational weapons corporation are sent on a team building exercise in Hungary only to find themselves stuck in a dense forest where they are being hunted by a merciless European gang.

While Severance doesn't do anything particularly wrong, there are of course a couple of faults. Any work environment has to have some pretty unlikeable characters so it's unavoidable to feel less sorry for some when the killings start. Toby Stephens is undoubtedly one of the finest actors around, but he's yet to play a role in a successful film that really does him justice. Utterly capable and ever reliable Tim McInnerny (of legendary Blackadder fame) is amiable enough, but it's Danny Dyer that gets most of the punchy one-liners as the part-druggie, part-chav cheeky chappie he's grown accustomed to playing. Thankfully, cute Laura Harris hasn't been cast as the 'is she or isn't she the villain all along?' as it's really time she ditched that and moved on.

The two distinct genres don't always make for a happy marriage and eventually the tone shifts over to deadpan. At least one line is stolen from elsewhere but there's a couple of shots that felt like homages rather than plagiarism. There's more than enough laughs and nasty moments to fill both audience preferences. The fast pace means Severance doesn't risk outstaying a welcome, the special effects team did a great job and the camera work is suitably snappy. The only real risk is hype as anyone expecting anything other than a night out with a few grim moments and some genuine belly laughs will leave wondering what the fuss is about. Try to avoid thinking about where these guys took their inspiration from too as that wouldn't do anyone any good either. A solid 3 star experience that hopefully has some extra bits come home-entertainment time.