DVD Review – The Initiation (1984)

Directed by Larry Stewart (in his only feature directorial role), The Initiation tells the story of sorority girl Kelly Fairchild who is plagued by constant nightmares of a horribly burnt man who she tries to stab over and over again. She attempts to discover more about these nightmares with her psychology teacher Peter which leads to some revelations about her past that were being kept from her. All the while, she is having to pass her initiation into sorority house Delta Rho Kai by breaking into her father’s store in a mall where they all get trapped with a mysterious killer.

The main problem with The Initiation is that it feels like two different movies. The first 45-50 minutes are spent on Kelly’s psyche and her troubled childhood and delves into the ideas of repressed memories being brought out in dreams. But when they reach the mall it descends into a paint-by-numbers slasher affair with teens drinking, having sex and getting murdered. While the second half is good and highly entertaining, it does mean that the resolution of the first story feels forced and sandwiched between the ‘whodunnit’ slasher movie that has taken over.

However, The Initiation is far from a bad movie. Because it attempts to be something more than a Friday the 13th or The House on Sorority Row clone, The Initiation often comes across fresh and original. Even by 1984 standards, the final half hour doesn’t feel dated or lazy and it has some decent deaths, good practical effects and a cast of characters that you want to see survive.

The most likeable of which is our lead Kelly Fairchild played by Daphne Zuniga in her first major role. She brings such a spark and energy to the character that not only makes you want to see her survive, but also to discover her past. She is vulnerable, but when the time comes she knows how to turn it on to fight back. The rest of the cast of characters are also great with James Reed playing the sympathetic and helpful Peter stealing most of the scenes.

The Initiation is sort of forgotten movie of the 1980’s slasher genre and for good reason. It’s not because it’s bad, it was just up against some big hitters. In the same year, Silent Night, Deadly Night stole headlines from almost every other horror movie and there was a little movie by Wes Craven that gave birth to a now iconic burnt man in a stripey jumper. But based on its own merits nearly 30 years later, there is a lot to like about The Initiation. The acting is mostly good, the effects are great, the characters are all likeable and the story, while a bit convoluted and poorly handled, will keep you intrigued up until its double-twist ending. There is a moment in the third act with a really uncomfortable and oddly placed speech about child molestation, but aside from that there isn’t a lot to complain about.

It may not be the best example of the genre and it has been left in the vault of cinema history for a reason, but it is a recommended watch.