Severe Injuries Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Severe Injuries Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 24, 2024

2003’s “Severe Injuries” is a parody of slasher films, trying to bring some ZAZ-adjacent energy to the process of pantsing horror entertainment. The shot-on-video movie doesn’t have a budget and it’s mostly a backyard production, but director Amy Lynn Best and writer Mike Watt attempt to get something silly going with the feature. They avoid “Scream”-style self-consciousness, chasing a goofier offering of formula disruption with the story of a hapless killer trying to graduate to a genuine madman while targeting the inhabitants of a sorority house. Laughs are limited in “Severe Injuries,” with comedy a little too slack to inspire anything more than appreciative smiles. However, there’s intent here that’s worth a look, watching the production scramble to make something wacky and a little gory, going against the usual SOV grind of ugliness to have fun.

Melvin (Charlie Fleming) wants to be a serial killer, but he can’t quite master the ways of murder. When his father dies, Melvin sets out to “make the family proud,” setting his sights on the Rho Rho Rho Sorority in town, arming himself with weapons and hiding his identity behind a welder’s mask, preparing for an orgy of violence. At the house, Amber (Jenna Bull-Trombold), Suzie (Robyn Griggs), Tracy (Robin H. Green), and Tina (Stacey Bartlebaugh-Gmys) are planning for a party, waiting for house mother Lundford (Tim Gross) to leave for the night. They also deal with Lauren (Amy Lynn Best), an older student who’s not interested in joining the festivities. Guys, including Brad (Michael Athey), Edward (Francis A. Veltri), and Neal (Bill Homan), soon arrive, only to encounter a “celibate slumber party” inspired by “Lysistrata,” causing frustration as the evening begins. For Melvin, his reign of terror is throttled by his own ineptitude, struggling to find ways to kill moving targets, and his grand plan of mass murder is soon challenged by an outsider.

“Severe Injuries” establishes its atmosphere with an introductory sequence that finds Melvin chasing a potential victim through a forest. The woman screams for help, but she’s also capable of fighting back, presenting a problem for the bulky murderer, who’s easily overwhelmed. Melvin struggles with his identity and purpose, and Watt tries to have some fun with this personal crisis, putting the character into motion after the death of his dad, ready to make his mark as a true masked maniac. Jokes come from his inability to achieve his goal, including holing up inside a bedroom closet waiting for the kill…only nobody comes into the room. He’s ready to slash up a student in the shower, only to be chased away by her grotesque appearance. Melvin’s a boob, providing some horror antics for “Severe Injuries,” and his mission is soon complicated by additional problems as more characters enter the sorority house.

Sexual release isn’t available to the male players of “Severe Injuries,” with these eager guys facing a shutdown of carnal activities, courtesy of a feminist literature professor (Debbie Rochon) trying to be a positive influence on her students. Horny antics are muted in the feature, which is more interested in comedy and character pairings, as Lauren finds chemistry with Neal, though he remains highly distracted as they get to know each other. Goofiness is present in “Severe Injuries,” and Watt makes some effort to add snappy lines to the endeavor, with Best trying for some speed in the notoriously sluggish world of SOV entertainment.

Severe Injuries Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.32:1 aspect ratio) for "Severe Injuries" offers a decently detailed look at screen information for the shot-on-video production. A general sense of character appearances is available, including costuming and some softer skin particulars. Gore shots are reasonably appreciable, along with house interiors. Exteriors offer acceptable depth. Color remains slightly aged but compelling, and primaries do well with period style and bloodshed. Brighter hues are found with hair color and decorative additions. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in decent condition.

Severe Injuries Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix for "Severe Injuries" deals with the feature's inherent level issue, finding dialogue noticeably quiet while music cues are significantly louder. This doesn't appear to be a Blu-ray problem, requiring some volume riding to sort out at times. Intelligibility isn't completely threatened, with performances appreciable. Scoring retains instrumentation.

Severe Injuries Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Amy Lynn Best and writer Mike Watt.

• Commentary #2 features director Amy Lynn Best, writer Mike Watt, and actress Robyn Griggs.

• Commentary #3 features actions Charlie Fleming, Tim Gross, and Jim Steinhoff.

• "Ouch! 20 Years of 'Severe Injuries'" (53:46, HD) is the making-of for the film, featuring interviews with director Amy Lynn Best, Saturn's Core co-owner Ross Synder, co-producer/actor Charlie Fleming, co-producer/actor Tim Gross, executive producer/actor Francis Veltri, composer/actor Jim Steinhoff, special effects makeup artist Lee Wildermuth, fight choreographer/actress Jasi Lanier, photographer/makeup artist Brian Kraemer, crew members Mike and Carolyn Haushalter, and actors Bill Watt (audio only), Alyssa Heron, and Stacy Bartlebaugh-Gmys (via video conference). Best explores her inspiration for "Severe Injuries," attempting to poke fun at the slasher genre by making things uncomfortably real for the characters. Fleming recalls his part as the killer, Melvin, and details his various appearances in the picture, while his co-stars also share tales from the production, dealing with numerous demands. Anecdotes from the low-budget shoot are offered, along with a charting of relationships, with many of the professionals previously working for Best on "Were-Grrl," which gets a lot of mentions here. Also included is BTS footage showing off cast and crew camaraderie, and there's time spent at a horror convention, with Best trying to sell her movies, surrounded by friends. BTS images are also presented.

• Interview (15:00, SD) is a discussion of "Severe Injuries" with director Amy Lynn Best.

• Interview (2:16, SD) is a short conversation with actress Brinke Stevens, who celebrates her history of filming shower scenes and jokes around with the interviewers.

• Cast & Crew Interviews (12:17, SD) follows a camera around the set, picking up on BTS energy and taking a few moments to chat up production members during downtime on "Severe Injuries."

• Outtakes & Deleted Scenes (23:48, SD) collects flubbed lines, giggle fits, uncomfortable moments, and some extra clips from "Severe Injuries."

• Image Gallery (1:06) collects home video and poster art images, and snaps from the photo shoots that contributed to final designs.

• And Teaser Trailer #1 (:28, SD), Teaser Trailer #2 (:26, SD), and a Home Video Trailer (1:49, SD) are included.

• "Were-Grrl" (27:30, SD) is a 2002 short film by Amy Lynn Best.

• Outtakes (2:44, SD) for "Were-Grrl" are included.

• "Secret Scroll Digest" (14:48, SD) is an interview with Amy Lynn Best and two members of the "Were-Grrl" cast.

• "On-Set Cast Interviews" (19:39, SD) return to "Were-Grrl" with Amy Lynn Best and members of the cast.

• "Neck Up" (29:29, SD) is a 1995 short film from Mike Watt.

• "7:45 of the Dead" (1:36, SD) is a 2011 short film by Amy Lynn Best.

• "Zom-B-Gone" (3:28, SD) is a 2015 short film by Amy Lynn Best.

• And a Home Video Trailer (2:45, SD) for Mike Watt's "The Resurrection Game" is included.

Severe Injuries Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Severe Injuries" tries to escalate matters via competition, watching Melvin struggle to achieve his murderous goal. However, the overall vibe of the movie is fairly sedate, with most attention placed on jokes until the end, when more gory events start happening. Genre fans are likely to be most responsive to "Severe Injuries," embracing the silliness of it all, also appreciating growing violence. It's not a laugh riot, but it does try to become one, which is laudable, giving it a little boost of ambition.