Society

"The rich have always fed off the poor. This time, it's for real."

1990 1h 40m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 671

ComedyHorrorMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Bill Whitney is worried that he is different to his sister and parents. They mix with other upper-class people while Bill is more down to earth. Even his girlfriend seems a bit odd. All is revealed when Bill returns home to find a party in full swing.

“The rich have always fed off the poor. This time, it's for real.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Billy Warlock
Bill Whitney
Connie Danese
Nan
Ben Slack
Dr. Cleveland
Evan Richards
Milo
Patrice Jennings
Jenny Whitney
Tim Bartell
David Blanchard
Charles Lucia
Jim Whitney
Heidi Kozak
Shauna

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Brian Yuzna
Writers: Woody Keith, Rick Fry, Pete von Sholly
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

36 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Brian Yuzna, shot by Rick Fichter. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Mark Ryder. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Teschner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Billy Warlock and Connie Danese and Ben Slack carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The rich have always fed off the poor. This time, it's for real.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0098354 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Brian Yuzna directs. Rick Fichter behind the camera. Mark Ryder scores. Peter Teschner cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

136 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Brian Yuzna, shot by Rick Fichter. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Mark Ryder. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Peter Teschner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Billy Warlock and Connie Danese and Ben Slack carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The rich have always fed off the poor. This time, it's for real.".
7IMDB entry: tt0098354 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 11 themes, including "high school", "orgy", "transformation", "secret society".

The technical file

Cinematography: Rick Fichter
Original score: Mark Ryder
Editing: Peter Teschner
Production design: Matthew C. Jacobs
Costume design: Robin Lewis West
Makeup / hair: Screaming Mad George
Sound: Clancy T. Troutman
Stunt coordinator: Dan Bradley
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Society (1990)

Also by

Brian Yuzna

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2025-10-06
★ 5/10
The paranoia of “Rosemary’s Baby” mixed with the gross-out bits of “The Thing” Shot in early 1989, this reminded of “Rosemary’s Baby” during the first two acts and so was unsurprised to learn that the director cited it as one of his biggest influences, along with “The Spiral Staircase.” The milieu of the story is just switched from an old Gotham apartment building to sunny SoCal. Billy Warlock makes for a great protagonist and it’s unfortunate he didn’t have a more successful career in acting. So, the first hour works pretty well, but the shocking elements of the last act go on way too long. Less is more. That’s why Polanski limited the big reveal at the end of “Rosemary’s Baby” to just a minute or two. “Society” was appreciated in Europe in 1989-90, but was a dud in America, where it wasn’t officially released until 1992, although it screened at the USA Film Festival in 1991. It, however, did very well when released to video and has gone on to develop a cult following. It runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area as follows: Pasadena (the mansion), Van Nuys (high school), North Hills (hospital) and Culver City (studio work). GRADE: C

Production companies

Who made it

SO
Society Productions
WI
Wild Street Pictures

Key crew

EditorPeter Teschner
Executive ProducerKeizo Kabata
Executive ProducerTerry Ogisu
Executive ProducerPaul White
Makeup EffectsScreaming Mad George
Art DirectionKelle DeForrest
CastingDonna B. Anderson
ProducerKeith Walley
Production DesignMatthew C. Jacobs
Makeup ArtistValerie McKnight
Makeup ArtistLisa Love
Sound DesignerClancy T. Troutman
Supervising Sound EditorAdam Johnston
Makeup ArtistPhyllis Temple
Sound Re-Recording MixerJohn L. Anderson
Sound EditorMichael P. Cook
Sound EditorTed Johnston
Sound Re-Recording MixerDoug E. Turner
Production ManagerGary Schmoeller
Sound EditorMarty Stein
Sound EditorMike Virnig
Makeup ArtistWendy Gosse
Sound EditorDuke Brown
Makeup DesignerScreaming Mad George

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

high school
orgy
transformation
secret society
cult
surrealism
human body
psychiatrist
hilarious
bold
disgusted

Release history · US

When it landed

Theatrical1992-06-11R

Also known as

International titles

Haute sociétéCA

5.9