Brian Yuzna’s 1989 horror Society is out on Blu-ray from Arrow Films.
Ryan takes a look back at a grotesque satire…
Bill Whitneys just an ordinary American high school kid.
Sure, he may live in a Beverly Hills mansion.
He might drive a brand new Jeep to the beach.
How do you like your tea?
Society needed something more out there, Yuzna thought.
You were right Billy, I am a butthead!
Societyowes a huge debt to Japanese special effects artist Screaming Mad George.
ButSocietyis also more satirical than those films.
In the era of John Hughes,Societycould be seen as the most surreal teen flick of the 1980s.
Yuznas direction lacks the singular flair of Lynch, but it still has a certain ramshackle impact.
Youre going to make a wonderful contribution to society.
Its fair to say thatSocietydidnt have the smoothest of releases.
Yet in the UK and parts of Europe, the movie found a receptive audience.
The growing appreciation seemed to seep into America when it was finally released there.
In its own rough-and-ready, unsubtle way,Societyoffers its own assault on the greed is good 80s era.
Times change, but the shunting never stops.
Societyis out in a special edition Blu-ray on June 8, courtesy of Arrow Films.
