Secret Society Movies

[Ash]

I recently found this article:
Top 10 Secret Societies
(the societies listed in it are actual real societies)

Obviously, the first one that comes to mind is the Skull & Bones society that was portrayed in the movie "The Skulls".
Most secret societies in films are bad...but there may be some that are good.

Can you think of other films that have secret societies in them?
What were the secret societies' ultimate goals?

[ulthar]

Two that come to mind immediately are SAHARA and "The Simpsons."  The latter, of course, was a spoof of secret societies.

[Derf]

Then there's the Illuminati in one of the Tomb Raider movies. Not to mention the Templars in The Da Vinci Code (and really, I'd rather not mention it. Really.)

[Neville]

I can thing of many with CRIMINAL secret societies, like that Hammer film on the Tongs starring Christopher Lee, but not many involving secret societies... Well, there's that secret society formed by the Sheriff and some other villagers on the "Twin Peaks" TV series, but can't remember its name.

"The Skulls", by the way, it's on my "Never ever watch again" list. It had potential for being far more fun than it was, and it even balked when it came to criticise secret societies. Bunch of wimps.

[Shadowphile]

National Treasure - it involves the Masons

From Hell - also involves the Masons

Satanic Rites of Dracula - no, not the Mason.  Just a bunch of old guys who want to get rich and some young guys in white turtle necks and furry vests.  I guess it was a uniform.....

[Neville]

Now that I think of it, the baddies in Stallone's "Cobra" also form some kind of cult, but this is never properly explained.

[AndyC]

I couldn't stand The Skulls. We were just expected to hate this group because they were exclusive and secret, and that can't be good. We were supposed to side with the idiot who felt it was his duty to expose all of the secret goings on, and so got himself killed breaking and entering (which was the only really sinister thing that happened). Mostly, we're expected to be apalled at wealth and privilege.

Just a dumb movie all around.

[Scott]

I liked both NATIONAL TREASURE, DA VINCI CODE, and even THE SKULLS.

Hey, how about TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD. They had Templars. It didn't talk about secret societies, but kinda close. Ok, maybe not.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Hey, every secret society knows its sole purpose in life is to find a virgin--male or female, doesn't matter--so they can have a mandatory  virgin sacrifice, followed by the equal mandatory sex orgy.
Darn! I got to find one of those societies, but pagans and Satanists are so secretive these days.

[Neville]

There's the Opus Dei, but something tells me they fall a little short in the sex department.

[RCMerchant]

Race With the Devil from 1970 something had a town full of Devil worshippers chasing Peter Fonda all over the south...they sacrificed some chick. I can think of lottsa devil cult movies...OH! Cult of the Cobra...from '50 something had some highpreistess getting revenge on some GI's...I saw it a long time ago and dont remember alot about it ...it was lame.Odessa,a secret society of Nazis, cloned a buncha little kid Hitlers in a movie I cant put my finger on.Gregory Peck wuz in it.

[Shadowphile]

Boys from Brazil?

[Neville]

Must be that one. Pretty good, every bit as interesting as the book by Ira Levin, although those kids looked more funny than threatening on film.

[peter johnson]

Boys from Brazil was based on a real secret society not mentioned in the Men's article:
Odessa, the post-war fraternity of former SS and Gestapo officers, formulated primarily to hide each other.
What about The Star Chamber, with Michael Douglas?  A secret society dedicated to bringing final justice to those they deemed unworthy.
peter johnson/denny crane

[peter johnson]

Oh!  I thought of some more:
The Coven in Hammer's The Devil Rides Out.  Goals would be self-perpetuation and gain of power, wealth and knowledge from the Infernal.
The Club of 13 in The Demon -- see above.
peter johnson/denny crane