Time: 99 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Sex scenes & offensive language
Cast:
Billy Warlock as William “Bill” Whitney
Connie Danese as Nan Whitney
Ben Slack as Dr. Cleveland
Evan Richards as Milo
Ben Meyerson as Ted Ferguson
Devin DeVasquez as Clarissa Carlyn
Director: Brian Yuzna

The littlest I’ve heard about Society was that it was a horror movie that was described as ‘gory’, ‘disturbing’ and ‘wild’, and beyond that I didn’t really know what to expect (outside of probably having something to say about society in some capacity). Turns out, knowing as little as possible beforehand was for the best, and it was certainly an unforgettable experience.

Society starts out as a paranoid thriller, focussing on a teenager not fitting in with his family and the people around him, before he stumbles onto a town wide conspiracy. It’s a mystery for most of the runtime and is told mainly through the protagonist’s perspective, and with how things play out, I’d recommend going into this movie blind. The movie is partly about how rich families’ lavish lifestyles are alienating to others’, and based on that, you can already tell that much of the movie is a satire about the rich. There is plenty of heavy handed commentary about power, wealth, and the upper class elites feeding off the poor and disenfranchised. It’s very on the nose, but it kind of works here. The first two acts are pretty fun, but the movie becomes something else entirely when it enters its third act. I won’t go into too much depth, but the climax is far more depraved, repulsive and wacky than everything that came before, and has to be seen to be believed. The writing isn’t exactly the best, and the dialogue is particularly bad in parts. However, I think that the silliness and the tone does make its flaws work in sync with the movie, especially with the dark comedy.

The acting is definitely one of the weaker aspects of the movie with some rather rough performances, but it does somewhat work in line with the satirical tone of the film.

Brian Yuzna’s direction is decent, even if it’s a little rough in parts, particularly the editing. But the highlight of the movie are the effects, Society really is a practical effects masterwork. This is mainly seen in the graphic final act, with plenty of disgusting body horror.

Society is a flawed, but entertaining, bizarre, campy, and grotesque horror film, with fantastic practical effects and an unforgettable third act.