Reviewed as part of the 50 Years of Horror Challenge. You can find my list here if you'd like to follow along!

Though it happened to be by pure chance that I watched Society, I don't think I could have picked a more perfect potential double feature with my last watch, Dead & Buried. Besides their practical makeup effects and 80's style, both films feature a suffocating sense of isolation in a setting that is actually full of life, and establish a sense of dread in powerful opening sequences. Seriously, I was completely unnerved going into the opening credits, featuring a blurry scene of gluttonous activity coupled with an eerie musical selection. Even as the film carried into more campy and humorous territory, a dividing factor between the two films, it remained disturbing and unpredictable, funny only in how absurdly grotesque it really is.

Brian Yuzna made his directorial debut with Society though he had already written on From Beyond and would immediately lend his efforts to both Re-Animator sequels afterwards. Obviously his penchant for grotesque practical makeup and comedy infused horror was noticeable right out of the gate. The makeup crew comprised of numerous talents who have worked on everything Fright Night to Men in Black, though interestingly they pack all the special effects into an explosive final act, letting the atmosphere and writing convey the film's tension and horror up to that point, which I personally think makes the events that much more shocking compared to the "normalcy" (term used loosely) of the rest of the film.

The cast is very large as well and features a number of surreal performances, though the main weight is on the shoulders of star Billy Warlock. I found him to be totally enjoyable, his early paranoia and efforts to adapt to his surroundings conveyed perfectly well. Similar to Farentino in Dead & Buried we watch this character lose all control of his life as everyone around him seems to have ulterior motives that he doesn't understand and frustratingly can't prove. There area few moments in the late film when Warlock's character slips into some humor and bravado that felt out of place, though presumably was meant to signify a break in him. It was a minor moment of being put off though that didn't effect my enjoyment of the rest of the movie though.

As already noted, the practical effects are gross and completely fantastic. The final sequence featuring the bulk of the effects is bathed in red light and steadily grows in scale and absurdity the long it's allowed to go on, featuring some moments that are both disgustingly funny and just plain disgusting. There are some wild and creative ideas put to film, and should entertain the hell out of any fan of practical effects. The soundtrack throughout is also fantastic, with plenty of dread inducing tones coupled with lush classical pieces during key scenes that mark a chilling disparity between itself and the visuals.

While there are definitely some moments of purposeful humor that bring this one closer in line with a film like Re-Animator, I would certainly say that it embraces the horror of its premise more than the comedy. The humor here is so firmly planted in the grotesque that it doesn't detract from the darkness of the tone and allows the film to keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing which way the ending will lean. I won't give anything away, but it is well worth the watch to find out.

You can find this review here, as well as my other reviews at HorrorReviewed.