ed by r i p s n i A zine horror h s a r t
Introduction The Zine There’s something about watching absolute rubbish that makes me feel warm inside. The best way to distract yourself when you’re feeling down, or when the depressing reality of the actual society that we live in gets too real is to watch a film. The best films, in my opinion, are tacky, trashy, and typically low budget. This project is essentially a celebration of just that — the absurdity of Society, the freakishness of Frankenhooker, the artistry that is The Toxic Avenger. All of these films are a necessary escape from the state of the world we’re living in. I don’t want to spend two hours forty five minutes watching a critically acclaimed drama chronicling the breakdown of some upper class couple’s marriage — I want to experience mind blowing body horror effects, outrageous dialogue, and a plot line with very little substance. This zine features writing and art relating to the theme of trash horror. It has been lovingly put together by group of film fans, with the intention of providing some light(ish) entertainment in these troublesome times. If you enjoy it, hate it, or feel completely indifferent about it, please send some feedback this way, and tweet using #societyfanzine, it would be much appreciated! We hope that this horrifying zine brings you joy, so without further ado, happy shunting!
The Film Society (cert. 18) follows Billy, your average privileged teen living in Beverly Hills, but there’s something off about Billy’s family that he can’t quite put his finger on. We follow Billy through his journey to discovering what that difference is, a journey that crescendos into what has to be one of the most bizarre scenes in movie history. Society as a film is, to put it lightly, definitely not for everyone. It is worth a watch by any horror fan, however, precisely for its strangeness. Brian Yuzna creates a film that is not only hilariously disgusting, but also deeply satirical, commenting on the gluttonous ways in which the upper class feed off of everyone else. This film was chosen as the centrepiece of the project as it embodies everything you could want from a trashy horror film - comedic writing, visceral effects, along with a hearty dose of social commentary. It is available to watch now on BFI Player and Shudder - so as a nice pairing to all of this art and writing, watch the film too for a wonderfully weird experience.
Laura Hague
Movie Night with Mum and Dad Louise Pam
Bread and Circuses or The Tribute Of The Laughing Hangman and The Crying Clown By Connor Seed
An empty stage adorned in dark. From off-stage, the marching sounds of merry steps begin and gain intensity before reaching cacophony. A crowd emerges dressed in varying degrees of historic garb: a Thatcher era MINER; a Victorian UNDERTAKER; a Carry On film style NURSE; an ASTRONAUT; a chimney sweep; a medieval bard; a Great War soldier; a peg-legged pirate; an office worker; a nun. Leading the rabble are a laughing hangman and a crying clown; ALBERT PIERREPOINT and GRIMALDI. Each member of the crowd carries a stick in their centremost hand which extends skywards to a gargantuan puppet sporting a caricatured face of Emperor Nero Germanicus. The crowd frolics and laps the stage several times before bringing themselves and their effigy centre stage to face the audience. GRIMALDI Bread! PIERREPOINT Circuses! GRIMALDI Bread!
PIERREPOINT And circuses! GRIMALDI Bread. PIERREPOINT Circuses! The mouth of NERO begins moving as if by itself. The CROWD stares in disbelief. The beautiful sounds of a lyre playing begin echoing from inside the gargantuan puppet. Stage-left of the CROWD begin chanting, quietly and quickly but gaining volume. Stage-right CROWD copy this with their own mantra. CROWD (STAGE-LEFT) Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. Bread. CROWD (STAGE-RIGHT) Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. Circuses. From out of NERO’S mouth and nostrils pour flames. The set catches alight with the crude drawings of the city map going up in smoke. NERO Bread and circuses!
PIERREPOINT is dragged upward by the noose around his neck. He maniacally laughs and dribbles as this takes place. GRIMALDI’s pocket flower begins shooting out fire into the audience as he breaks down sobbing. BOTH drop the stick used to hold up the puppet. NERO does not flinch. In disbelief, the CROWD drops their sticks and flee from the stage. Both PIERREPOINT and GRIMALDI attempt to speak their phrases, half-choking as they speak them. PIERREPOINT Circuses! GRIMALDI Bread! PIERREPOINT Circuses. GRIMALDI Bread. PIERREPOINT Circuses! GRIMALDI Bread! NERO What an artist dies in me!
PIERREPOINT is dropped to the floor. GRIMALDI’s pocket flower halts spewing flames. They kneel and clasp their hands to pray to NERO above them. Both characters continue displaying their one emotion, and then - feeling unheard in prayer run manically around the stage waving their arms. As they cross paths, they bump into each other and fall to the floor. They look up at each other and nod, still gripped by the mania. GRIMALDI Bread! PIERREPOINT Circuses! GRIMALDI takes the rope and starts to choke PIERREPOINT with it, who in turn takes GRIMALDI’s pocket flower, spraying him in an inferno. BOTH fall dead on the floor - the crude imitation of the urban sprawl still burning behind them. With their deaths, the puppet NERO gradually lowers to stage floor - level and lifeless. A NEWSPAPER VENDOR with a rustic cart strolls onto stage whistling a merry tune. NEWSPAPER VENDOR Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Bread or circuses! Make up your minds. Read all about it.
BREAD AND CIRCUSES: AN END
LEFT Response to Japanese Gore ABOVE Continuous Yuzna Evan Soule
An ode to user reviews This movie is twisted, but I’ve seen worse. No plausible story in this film. This movie is absolute crap. Pure rubbish. Trust me, you can pass on this one. The first two reviews are fake, as usual. I wonder how people come up with this disgusting stuff, unless of course they have some issues themselves. In which case, they should look for professional help. The most disgusting film I have ever seen But I mean that, as a compliment. I will never get those 99 minutes of my life back. Never, ever. I could’ve been reading, taking a nap, I could’ve been bicycling. I could’ve been counting the number of tile in my bathroom.
I saw the end of this when I was a kid And could never remember its name. Now that I do, I can hopefully forget this movie. I think 80s girls are hotter than 2019 Too too too but
much gore and much blood and much nudity, a lot of laughs.
I could go on and on‌ this film is wonderful. Because of what it means, it rivals Citizen Kane and The Godfather.
Laura Hague
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Just like them !
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Niall Smee
Christabel Payne Tate
Pretty, Flushed Cheeks are th e Secret to Looking Healthy.. . Here are the Best Blushers to Achieve the Look
rsty i h t s ll's want a e F n ! o s No Brain rend y r t . . are t c skin. n i k st s newe
Six of the best books you can read to summon a sassy demonic entity!
oof r p r e at st W centuate e B c The s to A s eper a e r P a c ed Mas ssess o P e Thos
Style Tips for Spooky Stunnas Laura Hague
Acknowledgements A huge thanks to all of the contributors who put so much effort into their work. Another massive thanks to The Star and Shadow and the Projects Team for providing both funding and excellent support throughout the process! This project has been ridiculously fun to work on, and I look forward to hopefully creating more of it in the future. Laura Hague
The Contributors Laura Hague Louise Pam (@looooeeeez) Christabel Payne Tate (@christabelpaynt_) Connor Seed (@pendullwitch) Niall Smee Evan Soule (@a_man_in_his_socks)
