Severance

IN an industry dominated by American titles, it's always nice to see a film flying the flag for British cinema and Severance does just that.
Following in the footsteps of new wave British comedy films like Shaun of the Dead, the movie blends together humour, violence and gore with ease and panache.
And that's the main reason Severance succeeds because it never takes itself too seriously and the audience is able to relate to the characters.
The film sees a motley crew of sales people from an ominous weapons company embarking on a team-building weekend in Eastern Europe.
Things take a turn for the worse when they are abandoned by a reluctant coach driver and find a typically eerie lodge to stay in.

All the right elements are present to keep things interesting and you can't help but put on a wry smile as some of these smarmy characters meet a gruesome end.
There are people like the patronising boss Richard, the over enthusiastic jobsworth Gordon, the love interest Maggie and Danny Dyer stars as Steve reprising his usual role as the charming, cheeky geezer.
The only downside of the film is that director Christopher Smith doesn't seem to know whether he wanted to make a horror or a comedy.
This means that some moments are marred by being either too serious or too tongue-in-cheek.
If you like complicated films this isn't for you, but if you're looking for humour mixed with lots of gore, get down to your nearest Odeon.

Harsh Times

HARSH Times is one of those gritty urban tales that's almost impossible to define.
While some may see it as a buddy movie, others might describe it as a film about the degeneration of a callous LA harbouring few opportunities and many dangers.
However, the main theme is a journey into a spiral of self-destruction and madness.
And who better to take us down a path of madness than Christian Bale, star of such disturbing films such as American Psycho and The Machinist.
The story sees Bale playing Jim, an ex-Army Ranger, who slips back into a life of crime following the news that his job offer with the Los Angeles Police Derpartment fails to materialise.

Instead of looking for new jobs, Jim turns to alcohol, drugs and violence in his frustration and the movie follows his path of destruction as the situation goes out of control.
Feeling helpless, Jim loses his reason and better judgement and his grip on everything that's important to him begins to loosen.
You can't help but feel sorry for Jim's best friend, Mike, played by Freddy Rodriguez, who genuinely wants to get a job and sort his life out.
To see it all play out on screen is like a rollercoaster ride. It's frightening, thoroughly entertaining and comes to a shocking climax.
Harsh Times takes you on a terrifying yet compulsive voyage and is a vehicle for Bale's outstanding acting abilities. Well worth it.