Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Severed Arm Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 3, 2020

1978’s “Halloween” was a massive hit, turning the slasher genre into a trend that would spawn imitators for over a decade. Most hardcore horror fans generally look to 1974’s “Black Christmas” as the feature that really got the ball rolling, delivering death one body at a time. What’s interesting about “The Severed Arm” is how closely it plays to the conventions of the subgenre, coming out a year before “Black Christmas.” It’s an unheralded cinematic achievement, and a mark of distinction the production doesn’t make the most of. Yes, there’s a shadowy killer on the loose, stalking its victims slowly, delivering grisly exterminations with a sharp instrument. And that’s it for thrills and chills in the movie, with co-writer/director Tom Alderman a bit more concerned about reaching a sellable run time than really dialing up the fright factor of this somewhat odd/somewhat familiar endeavor.

Jeff (David G. Cannon) is a swinging bachelor who receives a special package in the mail one afternoon. Inside is a severed arm, triggering something deep within the recipient, who promptly meets with Dr. Ray (John Crawford). Five years ago, Jeff, Dr. Ray, Mark (Paul Carr), Herman (Marvin Kaplan), and Ted (Ray Dennis) elected to go exploring local caves for rock samples, entering one area filled with rotting wood buttresses. When a cave-in occurs, the friends are stuck in the dark for weeks, growing weary and hungry. A proposal for cannibalism is offered, with Ted drawing the shortest straw. However, when the gang finally takes Ted’s arm, they’re rescued and returned to their everyday lives. With the arrival of the severed arm, Jeff is profoundly spooked by the suggestion that Ted, believed to be dead, is alive and determined to exact revenge on the famished few who couldn’t hold out, coming after the buddies with a sharp ax and a heavy grudge.

“The Severed Arm” has a decent hook for audiences, presenting them with the titular discovery, which is sent to Jeff as a warning that something is wrong after five years of silence. He panics, immediately reuniting with Dr. Ray, a close friend who fully shares Jeff’s unease, with the twosome flashing back to the day they decided to visit local caves for a fun afternoon activity. “The Severed Arm” winds back five years to highlight the dire situation, with some innocent tapping on a rock wall bringing down boulders, nearly sealing the men inside. The screenplay slows down to study growing unrest among the survivors, and it’s an intriguing sequence, studying the passing of days, soon weeks, with the gang growing wearier as water is consumed and food is craved, leading them to a desperate idea of semi-polite cannibalism. Instead of a near-miss, the buddies actually manage to slice off Ted’s arm right as they’re being rescued, making the return to civilization quite awkward, inspiring a plan to make Ted seem delirious, covering the meat-eaters and their plan to snack on their bro.

“The Severed Arm” could spend more time in the cave, but the writing soon returns to the present, with the four fully limbed survivors reuniting to deal with threats to their lives. Instead of dialing up suspense, Alderman gets talky instead, delving into their separate lives and their shared paranoia. Matters go from fear to survival in “The Severed Arm,” which introduces an enigmatic killer with an ax fetish, looking to collect a few fresh arms from men who are happy to have theirs. The stalking moments aren’t especially inspired, even with Hitchcockian editing and moody cinematography, making the kills the least compelling aspect of the material. Alderman doesn’t push too hard with the feature, which is more of a casual slasher. Sure, there’s blood and pain, but shock value is generally low, with more time spent with Ted’s daughter, Teddy (Deborah Walley), who adds to the sleuthing aspects of the screenplay.

The Severed Arm Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as "Newly scanned & restored from its 35mm original negative," the viewing experience for "The Severed Arm" is quite vivid throughout. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is terrific with detail, examining faces with real sharpness, especially during the extended cave sequences, where physical deterioration is explored. Period costuming is fibrous, surveying wool-lined jackets and softer polyester shirts, and interiors are open for inspection, securing furniture and decorative choices from the 1970s. Colors are respectfully refreshed, offering natural skintones, while scenes of starvation protect the more bloodless look. Fashion sense is distinct, hitting hard with reds and blues. Greenery is bright and evocative. Delineation is precise, and grain is fine and film-like. Source has a few mild scratches.

The Severed Arm Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a louder sense of the synth score, handling electronic stings with authority (a few hitting Atari-esque sounds). Dialogue exchanges are equally distinct with a touch of sibilance issues, but panic and confrontations come through comfortably. Sound effects are blunt. Some mild hiss is detected.

The Severed Arm Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Severing the Past" (7:59, HD) is an interview with Vince Martorano, who shares his early acting interests in high school, soon realizing this was a profession for him. Moving to Los Angeles, the actor was cast in "The Candy Snatchers," also managing to secure an agent to help him with his career interests. For "The Severed Arm," Martorano was invited to join the production by director Tom Alderman, and he wasn't concerned with preparation, following the B-movie rule of "do it fast, not good." Detailing the short shoot (a "grind"), the interviewee mentions household locations belonged to cast members, and he offers a brief appreciation for the film's status as a proto-slasher. Post career jobs are detailed, and remarks on the cult longevity of "The Severed Arm" are offered.

• "A Cut Above the Rest" (9:04, HD) sits down with producer Gary Adelman, who was riding the success of "The Candy Snatchers" at the time, looking for another project before purchasing a treatment for "The Severed Arm," creating a screenplay shortly after. Collecting a $125,000 budget from an advertising agency and actor David G. Cannon, the project was off, though Adelman admits he has no idea how profitable the endeavor was. Release memories are shared, with co-writers Tom Alderman and Darrel Presnell already involved in film exhibition, which helped to bring "The Severed Arm" to audiences. Casting is noted, scoring is celebrated, and a production mishap is revealed. The interviewee closes with an assessment of the director, and lists the real reason behind the death of drive-ins.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

The Severed Arm Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Severed Arm" isn't an exercise in style or screen tension (synth scoring by Phillan Bishop does a lot of the heavy lifting), but all is not lost. There's the nifty opening act, setting up crazy potential for a macabre mystery. And there's the resolution, which actually brings the picture to an incredibly dark place before signing off, adding a little rush of evil to a feature that needs a lot more of it. "The Severed Arm" might seem grisly and gritty from the outside, but it's a mild chiller (how it hasn't been remade is the real question mark here), with Alderman not up to the challenge of mounting a real mean machine, especially with a premise that all but welcomes it.