Director. Larry Stewart
Screenplay: Charles Pratt, Jr
Min: 97
Year: 1984
Score: 4.87
Release: Arrow Video November 8th, 2016
The Film
Have you ever wondered what would happen what would happen if you poured the popular slasher films of the 1980s into a blender, set it to high, and left it on for two hours? The Initiation would happen. This isn’t the first time this has happened and lord knows it wasn’t the last; but, how does this affect the film, that is the question.
The film tells the story of sorority pledges who are on the cusp of getting accepted as full sisters and their final prank is to break into and steal a security uniform from a local department store. The catch is that Kelly Fairchild, the main character portrayed by Daphne Zuniga in her first starring role, is the daughter of the owner of the store. Kelly has issues with night terrors surrounding a violent memory of her adolescent years leading her professor who conveniently is working on a phD on dream, or something boring.
Special Features
It is pretty fair to say that I watched the film before I listened to the commentary. And really I do not think there is a different way to do so. But, and this important, the commentary makes the movie a whole lot better. When I was a teenager I watched many of the films which have been cannibalized for this flick and I love those films. I did not understand the importance of this film until after I let slasher experts explain to me why I should care. It is still corny as all get out, but I still think it is worth it, just a little moreso now. The other interviews are interesting, but I didn’t take too much from them.
- Brand new restoration from original film elements
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original Uncompressed Mono PCM audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Brand new audio commentary by The Hysteria Continues
- Brand new interview with actor Christopher Bradley
- Brand new interview with actress Joy Jones
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn
Transfer
Like most of the modern Arrow Video releases I have seen this film looks great. I feel like we are in a new age of restoration, for a while now, but producing a disc and blanketing the populus with them is no longer a viable option.
Director: 6 – Cinematography: 5 – Edit: 4 – Parity: 4 – Main performance: 5 – Else performance: 2 – Score: 6 – Sound: 5 – Story: 2 – Script: 7 – Effects: 6 – Design: 4 – Costumes: 6 – Keeps interest: 6 – Lasting Interest: 5
Spoiler (vague at least).
Sherlock is wrong.