Society

Bill Whitney is a practical, late-teens-to-20s guy who feels out of place in the glossy circle his sister, parents, and their upscale friends move in. He is down to earth, skeptical of the rituals of social polish that define his family's world, and even his girlfriend Nan seems a touch strange. When he returns home one evening the mansion is pulsing with a party, banners and chatter masking something under the surface. The borrowed elegance around him clashes with his own blunt observations about money and status. As the night unfolds, Bill begins to notice a widening gulf between what he values and what the people around him pretend to be, hinting at a secret beyond polite society, unsettling him deeply.

Released in 1989 and directed by Brian Yuzna, Society lands on a screenplay by Rick Fry and Woody Keith. It blends satirical wit with horror, using a look at wealth and social ritual to skew life, and it remains provocative.

Over the years Society has become a cult favorite for horror fans who savor its overripe satire and practical effects. Its most talked about moments critique the hollow glamour of upper class life, while the film's audacious finale solidified its place in conversations about cinematic shocks tied to class critique.

Critics have often split on its tonal swings, praising the concept and effects while noting shifts in mood can feel uneven. The film treats wealth, appearances, and conformity as a corrupting force, using sharp humor to expose how social rituals mask exploitation and power. His outsider view frames the critique.

The film posted a modest release with limited exposure, earning a small worldwide gross. It found a longer life on home video and in cult circles, where its biting satire and shock effects attracted a dedicated audience for years ahead.