Severance’s Creepy Goat Scene Reveals Undeniable Resident Evil 4 Influences

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Summary

  • Severance’s eerie workplace and mysterious rituals create an unsettling atmosphere of unease.
  • “Who is Alive” features a scene reminiscent of Resident Evil 4‘s village encounter, adding to the eerie vibe.
  • Mark in Severance parallels Leon from RE4, navigating an increasingly hostile reality beyond their understanding.

The world of “Severance” on Apple TV+ is subtly disturbing. The cold, sterile environment of Lumon Industries, the eerie silence in its corridors, the peculiar customs and regulations – it all gives an uncanny feeling that something’s not quite right in this series. The show seems to warp reality in a way that leaves you slightly disoriented. As we move into the second season, the unsettling vibes only intensify as new enigmas hint at Lumon’s broader reach. In Episode 3, there was one scene in particular that ratcheted up the chilling sensation, reminiscent of a moment found in some horror video games.

In the basement of Lumon, Mark and Helly find themselves in an unusual pasture filled with goats. This oddity amplifies the surreal atmosphere of their workplace. However, what truly sets this scene apart is what follows—at first, caretakers appear who seem peculiar, then they grow more and more intimidating until their hostility becomes overt. This sequence is unsettling, and for those familiar with the game Resident Evil 4, it may resonate. The experience echoes Leon Kennedy’s initial encounter in El Pueblo, a Spanish village where the locals initially appear strange but later reveal their violent nature. The similarities are so striking that one can’t help but question—was this a deliberate reference from the showrunner of Severance?

Did Severance Make An Intentional RE4 Nod?

Although the connections between “Severance” and “Resident Evil 4” might not leap out at first glance – one being a thought-provoking sci-fi series about corporate power, and the other a horror game focused on bioweapons and mental manipulation via parasites – there’s an uncanny resemblance between the tense scene in the latest “Severance” episode titled “Who is Alive”, where Mark and Helly encounter aggressive goat herders, and the iconic village sequence in “Resident Evil 4”.

Severance
Created By Dan Erickson
Showrunner Dan Erickson
Cast
  • Adam Scott
  • Zach Cherry
  • Britt Lower
  • Tramell Tillman
  • Jen Tullock
  • Dichen Lachman
  • Michael Chernus
  • John Turturro
  • Christopher Walken
  • Patricia Arquette
  • Sarah Bock

In Resident Evil 4 (RE4), Leon Kennedy’s initial significant clash takes place in a peaceful-looking Spanish hamlet. At first glance, the villagers seem apprehensive about his arrival, but as Leon delves deeper, the atmosphere grows tense. All of a sudden, the villagers transform into hostile entities, exposing their parasitic contamination and launching an assault on him.

In a rather unexpected turn of events, Lumon employees exhibiting signs of mutation isn’t exactly subtle, but the peculiarity of the goat pasture encounter leaves Mark S. and Helly R. bewildered. The locals attending to the goats are dressed in a manner typical of small farming communities. However, their demeanor shifts from unusual to aggressively hostile as they cross paths with Mark and Helly. The atmosphere of this scene resembles a scene straight out of a video game.

Mark S. As Leon S. Kennedy

A comparable element in this scenario is that Mark, like Leon in Resident Evil 4, assumes a detective-like role, finding himself in an enigmatic, progressively dangerous setting. Both characters are thrust into situations they struggle to comprehend and must navigate a world subtly twisted, gradually uncovering the full extent of their horrors. Initially, Leon believes he’s on a standard rescue mission for the president’s daughter; however, his destination, El Pueblo, hides a village infected with Las Plagas parasites. In contrast, Mark commences Severance under the impression it’s merely about dividing his work and personal life, but soon discovers the corporation he serves harbors a profound secret.

Initially, Mark assumes that Segregation at his job is just a means to separate his professional and private life. However, as events unfold, he discovers the company he’s employed by is concealing something extremely unsettling.

Visually speaking, there are subtle resemblances. Leon Kennedy is frequently portrayed wearing a casual brown leather jacket, a look that has become synonymous with him. Mark’s business attire may not be quite as rugged, but his subdued color scheme and increasingly tired expression echo a similar vibe of an ordinary man thrust into an escalating crisis. The final hint that this scene in “Who is Alive” might be a tribute to showrunner Dan Erickson’s favorite games comes from Leon’s full name: Leon Scott Kennedy, often known as Leon S. Kennedy.

Art Imitates Art In Severance

It’s possible that Severance has borrowed ideas from external sources in order to enhance its chilling psychological aspects before. The visual style and rhythm of the show are reminiscent of classic horror films such as The Shining and Brazil, while Resident Evil 4, a video game with a tremendous cultural impact, has influenced how it constructs suspense and reveals danger through gradual, unnerving escalation. If Severance is acknowledging Resident Evil 4 in this way, it wouldn’t be surprising given the show’s affinity for intricate storytelling and discreet references.

One striking scene in the television series “Severance” stands out for its sudden shift from peculiar to downright threatening, mirroring a characteristic tone shift seen in the game “Resident Evil 4.” This tonal consistency between the two pieces of media suggests a deliberate connection. Whether or not the creator of “Severance” is a fan of “RE4” is unclear, but it’s evident that this scene demonstrates how effective horror storytelling can cross platforms, leaving an impression whether it’s on your TV screen or video game console.

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2025-02-03 23:27