Society

Director - Brian Yuzna (The Dentist)
Starring - Billy Warlock (Baywatch), Devin DeVasquez (Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV), and Evan Richards (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure)
Release Date - 1989
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "The rich have always fed off the poor.  This time its for real"
Format - BluRay (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was younger, pre-teen age, I visited the video store every weekend and sometimes a few times during the week to grab some flicks to watch.  At first I rented children oriented flicks and then Goosebumps came along and it opened up my mind to horror.  I watched horror when the mood hit me before but this pushed me in and I could not get out.  When I would visit the video there was several tapes on the shelf that I would always notice but never had the urge to check them out.  Now, years later I have watched several of those films and realized I missed out when I was younger.  One such film I skipped on viewing was the 1989 flick Society directed by Brian Yuzna.  Recently, Arrow Films launched their North American releases through MVD and among those films was Society.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send me a review copy.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows Bill (Warlock) who grew up in a well-to-do part of town and his family is very privileged.  Though his family is loaded, Bill feels out of place.  His parents hardly treat him as their child and his sister has something strange going on under her skin.  He also suspects them of being incest.  One of his friends has uncovered a deep, dark family secret and when he reveals it to Bill he soon dies in a car accident.  Bill then gets an invite to another rich kids party and attends it and learns that his sister is a bit of a slut and has engaged in an orgy a time or two.  He rushes home and finds his family, sister included, in the master bedroom in their undies.  Through a series of events, he is drugged and taken to the hospital where he awakens to find his jeep waiting on him.  He jumps in it and races home to find a party of sorts going on with everyone with money there.  When he arrives he is told that he is not actually their son and the rich, or society, are a different species that "shunt" and feed on the bodies of the poor.  They took Bill in to raise to become the perfect feast.  Bill's friend is not really dead either and they bring him in and shunt him.  They mold into one creature and feed on his body.  They plan on doing it to Bill but he fights back pulling one of them inside out.  They refuse to fight back and he is able to escape. 

     Brian Yuzna is a man known the world over for his amazing horror flicks.  He produced Re-Animator, From Beyond, Dolls, The Guyver, and so many more.  He also directed several classics like Brie of Re-Animator, Return of the Living Dead III, The Dentist, and The Dentist 2. I wish I wasn't so stupid and checked this one out before now because it is one perfect 80s horror flicks.  The acting in this one is great.  Bill Warlock does a great job at playing a confused teenager.  He does over do it at times and comes off as way too intense that results in a few ruined scenes but he still delivers an amazing performance.  The remainder of the cast does a great job at portraying serious characters at first and then switches it up to comical monsters at the end.  This took a great deal of talent to mix up the character's personalities like that and it should go commended.  The story for this one is fucking fantastic and unlike anything before it's time.  The film is a bit of a slow burning mystery until the last 20 minutes or so and then the film kicks it into high gear with some major body-horror.  These scenes are among the best I have seen in a horror flick and it deserves to be watched just for that.  Also, the film does not really have any on screen kills unless you count a throat slashing after it had happened and the shunting but the film has some of the most impressive practical effects I have ever seen and that is for a good reason.  We have Screaming Mad George to thank for all that.  The scenes featuring the shunting is fucking phenomenal and the high point of the flick.  You need to watch it to see how fucking bad ass they are.   Finally,  the Arrow release of Society has the following special features; Governor of Society: An Interview with Brian Yuzna, Masters of the Hunt featurette, Champion of the Shunt, Brian Yuzna Q & A, Brian Yuzna - Society Premier, trailer, Screaming Mad George Music Video, and commentary.  The special features are great and the film has been remastered to 1080p which looks amazing and crisp.  Overall, the Arrow release of Society is a must have for any kind of horror fan.  The film looks fantastic in this new remastered version and has tons of amazing special features with another special edition of the film out there for the hardcore fans of the film.  If you love weird horror then this film and release is for you.  Do yourself a favor and buy a copy now!