Sunset Society

Sunset Society from 2018 is an engaging, cult-themed B-style horror film. Directed by Phoebe Dollar and Rolfe Kanefsky, the movie boasts performances from Lemmy - the legendary frontman of the iconic band Motörhead – who spent some of his final days working on this movie. Other notable performances are delivered by Randal Malone, pleasantly quirky in his role as the film's pure-blood vampire, and Tracii Guns of the hard rock band L.A. Guns fame delivering a solid performance in his acting debut.

Set against the glitzy backdrop of Hollywood, the plot of Sunset Society revolves around a secret organization with an affinity for vampires, which hides in plain sight within the upper echelons of the Los Angeles elite. The story navigates the intricate world of Hollywood, where timeless themes of power, immortality and bloodlust coalesce with glamour and celebrity.

The Sunset Society is a clandestine group of vampires that has been around for centuries. The society operates undercover, ensuring the survival of its members through a tight-knit suite of rules, designed to live harmoniously and unseen amongst humanity while catering to their nocturnal habits. The protagonist of this twisted story, Dracula (played by Malone), is one such vampire who is burdened with curating this code of conduct. The society lives in peace until Dracula learns that one of their own has been recklessly indulging his thirst for human blood, jeopardizing their existence and risking their exposure to human society.

Lemmy, in his fantastically eccentric role, plays a bouncer employed by Dracula to keep prying eyes out of the Sunset Society. Boasting a unique mix of an in-your-face attitude and charisma, he becomes a pivotal character, a guardian at the gates of this secret society. His performance is one of the highlights of the movie, delivering a performance imbued with his natural, scrappy charm which keeps the audience engaged owing to his status as a quintessential rock and roll icon. Lemmy also appears to have contributed to the music of the film, setting a perfect tone to this bloody, gothic horror masterpiece.

The movie also extends an unexpected but appreciated nod to the music industry with the inclusion of Tracii Guns. Guns portrays Floyd, a Rock 'n' Roll star who gets more than he bargained for after a close encounter with the vampires. His acting debut brings with it a sense of authenticity, and his rockstar charisma adds color to his role, drawing an interesting parallel between the immortal status of vampires and fame in the music industry.

Sunset Society is a gore-filled, unapologetically graphic horror flick that has its fair share of shooting stakes, slashing throats, and sinful orgies. It is a blend of the supernatural and the astonishing reality of Los Angeles life, contrasting the seedy underbelly of the Hollywood elite with inexplicable horror fantasy genres. It exudes a grainy, retro style reminiscent of grindhouse cinema and is an evident homage to classic vampire lore and retro horror aesthetics that saturate each frame with a nostalgic charm.

The movie is replete with shocking surprises, unexpected humor, exaggerated characters, and unforgettable scenes steeped in a punk aesthetic. This, in conjunction with a nostalgia-inducing soundtrack, helps to effectively create an atmosphere of dread. Despite its dark themes, the film often dives headfirst into pure camp, delivering gut-busting humor in the grimmest of situations. The narrative employs its trash-cinema roots and love for the B-style cinema to create a mix of excessive horror and comic relief that will surely leave lasting effects on its viewers.

Sunset Society is a clear love letter from Dollar and Kanefsky to an era of horror films characterized by over-the-top gore, slightly hammy acting, and enthralling, tight, narrative storytelling. Despite its clear homage to past traditions, the movie doesn't feel dated, maintaining a sense of freshness and innovation throughout.

The Sunset Society is not everyone's cup of tea. It features explicit content both graphically violent and sexual but does so in a way that it continues to inform the narrative without becoming an exploitative shock-fest. It caters broadly to a specific niche: fans of low-budget, B-style horror enthusiasts with a love for rock music and punk aesthetics. However, keen-eyed viewers will appreciate the film's ambition and earnestness, and its effort to present an enduring party-like atmosphere, characterized by blood, debauchery, and rock 'n roll.