In 1989, Brian Yuzna made his directorial debut on Society. 35 years later, screenwriter Zeph E. Daniel peels back the layers to share his chilling truth behind the notorious cult classic in a new documentary.

The Darkside of Society will be released digitally May 13 from Uncork’d Entertainment.

Society‘s surreal and grotesque portrayal of elite depravity stunned audiences and secured its place as a horror essential. But while the film’s infamous “shunting” scene left an indelible mark on genre fans, its writer was enduring a very real psychological unraveling behind the scenes.

A raw, unfiltered examination of art, memory, and the dark corners of the creative process, the doc explores Daniel’s revelation that the film’s twisted plot was more autobiographical than he ever intended — a subconscious manifestation of repressed childhood trauma.

It features interviews with Yuzna, Society special effects designer Screaming Mad George, Color Out of Space director Richard Stanley,...