How ‘Severance’ Uses Old Tricks to Make Its Office Hell
In the age of open-plan offices, it’s easy to forget the horrors of the traditional cubicle farm. But Apple TV+’s new series, “Severance,” reminds us just how soul-sucking and dehumanizing office life can be. The show takes a twisted look at a corporate office where employees have undergone a mysterious procedure that separates their work and personal memories, leaving them trapped in a perpetual state of limbo between the two.
What’s striking about “Severance” is how it uses old tricks to create its office hell. The show employs classic horror elements like jump scares, eerie music, and unsettling imagery to build tension and keep viewers on edge. The office itself is a dark, labyrinthine maze of cubicles and conference rooms, with flickering fluorescent lights and shadowy corners that seem to hide something sinister.
But what truly sets “Severance” apart is its exploration of the psychological toll of office life. The show delves into the characters’ struggles with work-life balance, office politics, and the pressure to conform to corporate culture. It’s a chilling reminder of how easily our identities can be consumed by our jobs, leaving us empty shells of our former selves.
At its core, “Severance” is a commentary on the dehumanizing nature of modern work culture. It’s a reminder that we are more than just cogs in a machine, and that our worth is not defined by our productivity. The show’s use of old horror tricks serves to underscore this message, highlighting the terror that comes from losing oneself in the pursuit of success.
Overall, “Severance” is a thought-provoking and chilling exploration of the horrors of office life. It’s a reminder that sometimes the scariest monsters are the ones we create ourselves, and that true horror lies not in the supernatural, but in the everyday struggles of the modern workplace.