NOT SAFE FOR WORK: Severed Arms and Legs of Horror Cinema: An Off of Body Experience
Steve Barton
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Maybe if We Chop His Legs Off He’ll Make it: Whether queasy or not, The Ruins is going to climb under your skin. And in this case, the very last thing anyone wants is something climbing under their skin. Fortunately for Mathias (don’t take that whole fortunately part serious), his legs get the rock long before anything climbs under his skin. Easily one of the most charming personalities in this still-underrated film, Mathias falls into a mining shaft, busting himself up, actually breaking his back. The small group of misfortunates manage to lift Mathias to the surface, but headstrong med student Jeff takes immediate note that infection is setting in in his lower extremities. If they don’t amputate soon, he’s going to die of infection. What follows is an absolutely disgusting scene which involves heavy rocks, broken bones, plenty of sawing and a little cauterizing. Should have left poor Mathias in the ruin to be devoured by man-eating vines.
Beware of Bear Traps: Severance is one of the two indie flicks on this list that legions of horror hounds still haven’t caught on to (Splinter being the other). Well, do yourself a favor and change that immediately. This is a creative film with outstanding performers, a top-notch script, grade A humor and one of the coolest dismemberment scenes ever captured on cam. Gordon and Steve are the two shining personalities of Severance, so you know at the very, very least, one has to go. First on the docket: Gordon. Means of death? Hilarious bear trap leg severing (at least that’s the launching point). This is one of those terrific scenes that employ a minimal measure of slapstick humor along with what feels like perfect improvisation. It’s a disturbing scene to watch, but it’s hard to remember that when your laughing your ass off.
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