The 1980s were a golden decade for horror films, yielding classic after classic. One of those is the disturbing film Society, a satire about the gap between the rich and the poor. It introduced us to a world where the rich sacrificed people to gain power, influence, and riches.
In the film, a teenage boy, Bill, played Billy Warlock, discovers his family is part of a gruesome orgy cult for the social elite. He is left fighting for his life. Not only is the storyline twisted, but one scene in particular will burn into your brain and stay there forever.
The film made its mark in horror history. A documentary has now been released that examines the film and explores the life of its creator, Zeph E. Daniel. After decades, Daniel revealed in the documentary that the movie is not just based on “real” events but on his own experiences with a cult. Scary, right?
The documentary, The Darkside of Society (great title, right?), is out now and is not just fascinating, but heartbreaking. Watch as Daniel reveals the horrifying things he’s been through and the challenges of making the film.
I sat down to talk with Zeph E. Daniel about the documentary and how the film echoes his real life. Larry Wade Carrell, the director of The Darkside of Society, joined Zeph E. Daniel and me for the interview to discuss both the film and Daniel’s experiences.
Zeph E. Daniel also made his mark with films like Bride of the Re-Animator and Girl Next, both of which are available to stream on Prime Video.
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