Severed Ties (1992)

Tagline: Science out of control. Horror out on a limb. That second part is a joke.

Curiosity: My friend Scott recommended it. He’s a horror buff who’s turned me on to films like Zombi 2, Demons, and High Tension. Basically, if he says it’s good, I take it as biblical law.

Plot: Scientist Harrison Harrison [Not a typo.] is trying to recreate his father’s lizard-based formula for regrowing body tissue while being creepily touched by his lustful, incestuous mother. He pulls a Doc Connors 2x by having his arm ripped off while trying to prevent an evil corporation from stealing his research. So, he uses the formula on himself and grows a new arm, but it’s sentient, reptilian, and occasionally murderous. Also, it can detach from his body at will. Also also, Harrison Harrison joins a hobo army.

Thoughts: Scott enticed me with a goofy gore flick, and that’s what I got. While Severed Ties lives up to its name and promise, it’s not on the same level as, say, Devil’s Rejects.

That said, I have to marvel at the cast. You’ve got Oliver Reed (Gladiator) as the bad guy and Garrett Morris (Saturday Night Live) as the main hobo. Harrison is played by Billy Morrissette, who went on to write and direct the phenomenal Scotland, Pa. with his now ex-wife, Maura Tierney. Weird times.

The plot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but there are enough bizarre sideplots (incest, romancing the homeless, face-ripping) to distract from that. On the gore side, there are a few nice bits spread throughout, but Severed Ties comes off a little conservative compared to the quote unquote “torture porn” of today. Overall, it’s not great, but it’s still a weirdly enticing flick from before CGI’s rise to prominence.

Reflection: I don’t think science works like that. Also, this film is evidence that narrators are rarely necessary.