Society Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Society Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 8, 2015

Brian Yuzna's "Society" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group. The supplemental features on the disc include new audio commentary with the director; original theatrical trailer; featurette with FX artists Screaming Mad George, David Grasso and Nick Benson; music video; Q&A session; and more. The release also arrives with the official comic sequel to "Society", reproduced in its entirety in a perfect-bound book, as well collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Alan Jones, illustrated with original archive stills and posters. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Bill Whitney

Somewhere in Beverly Hills, Bill Whitney (Billy Warlock, TV's Baywatch) can feel that something isn’t right, but he can’t tell what it is. Occasionally, he sees things, strange things, but when he attempts to describe them to his friends, they smile and walk away.

But when his sister’s ex-boyfriend (Tim Bartell, Meatballs Part II) asks him to listen to some very unusual recordings, Bill begins wondering whether his mother and father are his biological parents. Then, sensing that he is on the verge of a major discovery, he begins examining the world around him.

Brian Yuzna’s Society is a creepy thriller that enters the same territory David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch does. Its point of departure, however, is different. Its message is also far less effective.

The film is divided into two uneven parts with contrasting identities. In the first, the handsome Bill looks lost in glamorous Beverly Hills where beautiful girls are just dying to be picked up. Bill occasionally notices them, but his mind is too busy trying to figure out why the bizarre events he sees do not bother the people around him. It does not take a genius to figure out what is happening, but Bill’s frequent intense facial expressions suggest exactly the opposite.

The second part is where the film shifts gears and begins producing various observations about the world Bill exists in. After a couple of slalsher style murders, Bill finally gets to the bottom of the mystery that has been torturing his mind and begins to understand everything. At this point the film switches gears yet again and evolves into a surrealistic horror tale boasting some very original special effects.

The concept behind Society is quite good, but it feels like Yuzna was going in two completely different directions with it. On one hand this is a film that clearly tries very hard to appeal to viewers with a soft spot for horror and excess. The second part delivers the goods, but the rest of the film does not match its intensity. The horror and excess are also linked to a social commentary that is meant to give the film some weight. Unfortunately, it is too cliched -- is it really a revelation that wealthy white families residing in big white mansions in Beverly Hills not only have different needs but also see us mortals differently? -- and when it is all said and done it basically feels like a cheap excuse to justify some button-pushing (see the incest and orgy sequences).

Warlock is very handsome in front of the camera and it is not hard to imagine that some girls will find him irresistibly attractive, but he isn’t very convincing as the suspicious kid running for class president. Former Playboy model Devin DeVasquez looks stunning as Bill’s dream girl, but her acting skills are limited. Patrice Jennings, another very beautiful actress, also struggles as Bill’s sister.

The special effects (masks and makeup) are excellent. Yuzna and his team worked with such renowned FX artists as Screaming Mad George (Bride of Re-Animator), Guy Himber (Underworld), Christopher Bergschneider (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Dave Grasso (Terminator 2: Judgment Day), and Nick Benson (Tremors).

Society Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Brian Yuzna's Society arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group.

The film has been restored in 2K -- while the high-definition transfer was approved by Brian Yuzna -- and the basics we typically address in our reviews look very strong. Indeed, close-ups boast very good depth and clarity is consistently very pleasing, while the larger panoramic shots impress with wonderful fluidity (see screencaptures #6). Contrast levels remain stable. There are no traces of compromising degraining adjustments. Predictably, grain is evenly distributed and well resolved throughout the entire film. There are no sharpening corrections. Colors are stable, well saturated and always natural looking. Image stability is very good. This being said, early into the film there is a sequence with some quite large wave-like effects (or stripes) that fill up the entire screen. It appears that they are inherited -- obviously, however, they were not intended -- but their presence is impossible to miss. You can see what these effects look like in screencaptures #19, 20, 21, and 22. Additionally, while it is easy to tell that dirt and debris have been removed, tiny specks, some dirt spots and even vertical lines remain (you can see the lines in screencaptures #21 and 22). All in all, despite the imperfections mentioned above, the film really does have a very pleasing organic appearance. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your Blu-ray player regardless of your geographical location).

Society Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 (Stereo). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track is very good. Phil Davies and Mark Ryder's soundtrack benefits the most from the improved fidelity, but there are various audio effects that also make an impression Depth is good, but there are select parts of the film where there is some room for improvement (see Bill's speech and the orgy sequence at the end). The dialog is stable, clean, and easy to follow. There are no pops, cracks, background hiss, or digital distortions to report in this review.

Society Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Governor of Society - in this video piece, director Brian Yuzna discusses his early years in Hollywood, Re-Animator's success, the production history of Society, the "shunting" sequences and special effects, some of the surrealistic elements throughout the film, etc. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080p).

• Masters of the Hunt - in this featurette, Billy Warlock (Bill Whitney), Devin DeVasquez (Clarissa Carlyn), Ben Meyerson (Ferguson), and Tim Bartell (David Blanchard) discuss their acting careers and recall how they became involved with Society. In English, not subtitled. (23 min, 1080p).

• Champion of the Shunt - in this featurette, surrealistic makeup designer and creator Screaming Mad George and surrealistic makeup lab technicians David Grasso and Nick Benson recall their initial encounters with director Brian Yuzna and discuss their contributions to Society (with some quite hilarious comments about the creation of Buttface). In English, not subtitled. (21 min, 1080p).

• Brian Yuzna Q&A - presented here is footage from a Q&A session with Brian Yuzna which was filmed on October 25, 2014, after a screening of Society at Celluloid Screams Festival, UK. The director explains how Society came to exist and discusses some of the political themes in it, the more controversial aspects of the story (the incest), the special effects, etc. In English, not subtitled. (39 min, 1080p).

• Brian Yuzna - Society Premiere - Brian Yuzna talks about his love of horror films. The archival footage is from the world premiere of Society at Scala Cinema, London, 1989. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080i).

• Theatrical Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Society. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Screaming Mad George Music Video - (7 min, 1080p).

• Audio Commentary - in this new audio commentary, director Brian Yuzna explains in great detail how various sequences in Society were shot, the different surrealistic elements in the film, the production designs, the film's 80s look and atmosphere, the initial reactions it generated, his work work with Christophe Gans on Crying Freeman and Necronomicon: Book of Dead, etc.

• Booklet - collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Alan Jones, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.

• Society: Party Animal (Limited Edition Exclusive) – the official comic sequel to Society, reproduced in its entirety in a perfect-bound book.

• Cover/Packaging – Limited Edition Digipak packaging featuring newly-commissioned artwork by Nick Percival.

Society Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Brian Yuzna's Society is a wacky surrealistic tale about a young kid from Beverly Hills who struggles to understand the world he lives in. While he makes some shocking discoveries, the film goes overboard with a wide range of special effects that should warm up the hearts of horror fans. Recently restored in 2K, Society looks very good in high-definition. Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group's Limited Edition Blu-ray release also comes with Society: Party Animal, the official comic sequel to the film, reproduced in its entirety in a perfect-bound book. RECOMMENDED.