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Society cast: Billy Warlock, Patrice Jennings, Devin DeVasquez, Evan Richards, and Ben Meverson director: Brian Yuzna 95 minutes (18) 1989 widescreen ratio 2.35:1 Tartan Terror DVD Region '0' retail RATING: 6/10 reviewed by Emma French |
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The social stereotyping of the film is quite absurd, creating the sense of a kind of slasher Beverly Hills 90210. Billy Warlock as the confused and suspicious protagonist Bill, gradually discovering all is not right with his upscale family and neighbours, is an amusingly bad actor. Patrice Jennings, whilst not much better in the acting stakes, is suitably sexy as Bill's sister Jenny. Billy Warlock's most celebrated thespian outing was as eye-candy lifeguard Eddie Kramer in BayWatch, and his performance places him firmly on a par with those other BayWatch alumni Pamela Anderson and his ex-girlfriend Erika Eleniak.
But this film is about the special effects, not the stars, and Society deserves full marks for inventive gore. It is more a source of horrified fascination than genuine fright, but the images are memorably cinematic. The final flesh-fest produces some lovely visual moments that seem to be straight out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting, a strange and creepy melee of limbs and bodies.
The DVD has director commentary from Yuzna and the original theatrical trailer. This film does not have the cult horror status of Halloween or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but much like An American Werewolf In London and Fright Night, it is an amusing product of its time, to be enjoyed by all but the squeamish and prudish. The prurient pleasure of watching bodies turned inside out and heads emerge from backsides leaves a lingering sense of soiled exultation. This film provides the perfect inspiration for every teenager's dream of a drug-fuelled orgy.