Movie spotlight
On Screen!: Shivers
The debut feature from Canada's most celebrated filmmaker, David Cronenberg, Shivers provided the young director with a crash course in feature filmmaking and established many of the unsettling themes explored in his later work. In the film, medical professor Dr. Hobbes (Fred Doederlein) creates a genetically-engineered organism he plans to use to bring about a more sensually aware society, but his experiments turn deadly when the aphrodisiac-producing parasite gets out of control and spreads throughout a swinging Montreal apartment complex. Despite the film's success on both sides of the border, the critical backlash against the film was used to launch a cultural attack on Canada's film funding.
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of friends on a remote Scottish island are stalked by a mysterious, bloodthirsty creature during a birthday celebration. As the body count rises, they must fight for survival against an unknown entity with a taste for human flesh. The isolated setting and dwindling numbers heighten the suspense and terror.
Critical Reception
Severance received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its blend of horror and dark comedy, as well as its gore and inventive kills. However, some critics found the plot predictable and the humor occasionally hit-or-miss.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its dark humor and effective gore.
Appreciated for its creative and gruesome deaths.
Some found the plot formulaic and the humor inconsistent.
Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed 'Severance' for its bloody good time and dark, satirical humor. Many found the inventive kills and the surprisingly effective blend of horror and comedy to be highlights, though a portion of viewers felt the story was a bit too familiar.
Fun Fact
The film's director, Christopher Smith, also directed the acclaimed horror films 'Creep' and 'Triangle'.
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