Note: This Special Edition Blu-ray release will be available on November 8th courtesy of Arrow Video.
Growing up in the 80s, it seems like I watched almost nothing but horror flicks. That’s a slight exaggerated, but I’m probably not all that far off. It was a particularly busy time, with these types of features being produced at a higher rate than just about any other genre. Sure. the studios were cranking them out, but there were just as many (if not more) smaller, independent features trying to cash in off of the genre’s popularity.
The Initiation is one of those films that I remember seeing on VHS rental store shelves. It’s a goofy, made-in-Texas slasher that came a little late to the party and follows the all of the slasher staples. So, there should be nothing noteworthy about it. Yet the movie has found something of a cult following over the years. And, having watched the new Blu-ray from Arrow Video, I can actually understand the affection for it. It’s certainly a silly and borderline ridiculous effort, but it has some better than average performances, an amusing sting in the tail along and possesses a genuinely likable vibe.
Kelly Fairchild (Daphne Zuniga) is a college freshman who is feeling the affects of a long bout of amnesia stemming back to her childhood. She suffers from horrendous nightmares that suggest mental illness, a tragic family event involving great suffering. Unfortunately, her well-to-do parents Francis (Vera Miles) and Dwight (Clu Gulager) would prefer she not be cured of her condition.
However, a doctorate student studying dreams named Peter (James Read) wants to help Kelly get to the bottom of things. Did I mention that the traumatized lead has also just joined a sorority? Or that she and her pledges must break into an enormous department story and steal a security guard’s uniform as part of their initiation? As all is slowly revealed and the bodies pile up, let’s just say that the student and her family have a more than sordid past.
It’s a very silly story, which actually adds to the entertainment value. This is Zuniga’s first starring role and as exaggerated as it is she has an great presence. Despite being given nutty lines and reactions, the tormented Kelly comes across as very likable in a sweet but somewhat ambiguous role. There’s also a lot of humorous repartee between the students and supporting characters – they’re all more affable than typical teens in peril.
Even Miles and Gulager, who were no doubt slumming by appearing in this feature, do their best as Kelly’s secretive parents to add some class to the proceedings, even if their motivations are preposterous (I still have no idea why the mother insists on keeping the details of the family secret to the end). And the filmmakers attempt to add a motif (mirrors) to add some layering and depth to the story, which is appreciated; it also adds a couple of long and occasionally funny stares into reflective surfaces.
Of course, a lot of the popularity of these types of films have to do with the murders themselves. They’re well-handled, and the tone is such that while they’re violent, these bits don’t feel sadistic or mean. Perhaps it has something to do with the general tone, the anomaly of the killer’s garden trowel weapon and the fact that what is happening is already so preposterous that one can’t take it too seriously.
For horror fans, this effort throws in all of the established elements; insane asylums, wild frat parties, horny teenagers, a creepy old man, killer point-of-view shots and some over-the-top murders. At no point is it ever dull. And as implied previously, the big finale is actually memorable. I’m not entirely sure that it makes any sense and scoring the final minute or two with a blazing horn solo is a bizarre choice, but one certainly won’t forget it.
For the feature’s Blu-ray debut, Arrow have provided the best transfer possible. This marks the first time it has been available on disc and it has been brought to high definition from the original elements. Obviously, this was a low-budget production; certain scenes are a bit grainy and, of course, the dream sequences are intentionally diffused. However, there’s a whole lot of nighttime photography and scenes in the mall that look remarkably sharp considering the movie’s age. Overall, it’s an incredible improvement over previous releases.
The disc also offers plenty of entertaining bonuses. There are interviews with supporting cast members who recount their experiences on set. A newly found scene extension is included. There are publicity materials like the trailer. There is also a much better than average film historian and fan commentary. The speakers here offer some great information about the production history as well the background about the cast members and their feelings about the film today. The guys on the track also appear to have a real understanding and sense of humor about the campy aspects of this feature, accurately calling it, “…a Stars on 45 mega-mix of a lot of the slasher conventions and tropes of the time.”
That pretty much sums up The Initiation. A pastiche of many horror conventions that, thanks to an able cast and a memorable twist, manages to entertain in its own special way. I enjoyed it a whole lot more than I expected, even if a lot of my amusement came from the sillier aspects of the script and some nostalgic nods to the past. Slasher movie fans will definitely appreciate this campy and underrated little effort as well as its new upgrade to high definition.