The Initiation — The Initiation( Blu Ray/ DVD)
The release comes in a DVD/Blu Ray duel format, and as we’ve come to expected from Arrow we get double-sided cover art, featuring the original 80’s poster art & newly commissioned artwork for this release. You also get a selection of exclusive features to this release on the discs, but more on those later.
The Initiation was a US production that was primarily directed by Larry Stewart- whose only other directing credits had been US TV shows such as Buck Rogers In The 25th Century, Here’s Boomer, and The Bionic Woman. Initially the film was helmed by British director Peter Crane- who filmed some early scenes( unaccredited), though left the films production early on due to disagreements with the producers. The films plot focuses in on college student Kelly Fairchild, who is suffering from the recurring nightmares of a man burning. She is also trying to get into Delta Ro Kai sorority, but as part of her sorority Initiation she must break into her fathers mall.
The film came at the end of the golden age of slasher films, and while it’s an enjoyable addition to the genre. It does readily take elements from other films in the genre - a burnt face character, recurring nightmares, & escape mental patient. And it's fairly set in it’s genre clichés i.e. lots of POV shots, teens having sex & been killed, and characters suddenly coming across militated victims. The thing that really stands out here is the mall setting, which is used to often quite eerier effect. Added to this we get a smattering of bare female flesh, and some really quite brutal & prolonged killings with both a garden fork & a knife
On the whole the cast is fairly competent & memorable with a nice blend of different types of sorority sisters( slutty, comic, brainy, and bitchy). In the lead role of Kerry Fairchild, we have Daphne Zuniga, who was first known for her early small role in 1982 slasher The Dorm That Dripped Blood ( aka Death Dorm, Pranks), but went onto be the lead in classic 80’s teen comedy The Sure Thing with John Cusack, as well as later roles US TV shows such as Melrose Place. As her mother Frances, we have Vera Miles- who will be most known to horror fans as Lilly Crane/ Loomis in Psycho One & Two. And her father Dwight is played by Clu Gulager, who appeared in a whole host of 80’s horror & US TV such as The Return Of The Living Dead & Nightmare on Elm Street 2.
The other thing that really shines about the release is the excusive extras on the disc, and these take in a selection of three new interviews, with the films writer & two of its cast- these each last around the twenty minute mark, and each is interesting. You also get a new & exclusive full length commentary from The Hysteria Continues, who are a selection of four slasher fans/writers, who have really are becoming the go to people for slasher film commentaries. The commentary track from the four, is as usual on top form been both informative, amusing, yet down to earth.
So in summing-up this release, while The Initiation may not be the most original or distinctive slasher, it certain has it charms & will be enjoyed by fans of the golden age of the genre. And really this Arrow video version of the film is the definitive edition of the film to date; it’s also apparently the longest cut available too.