Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

A different way of telling a story

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

In the eighties drive-ins were dying off and grindhouse theaters were for the most part limited to larger cities. The rest of the country found their horror fix at the mom and pop video stores. The influx of horror films was massive and titles ranged from terrible low budget flicks to inspired films that rose above financial restrictions. Minor studios were churning out movie after movie to satisfy the home viewing crowds and the result was some movies that were more entertaining than expected if not completely memorable. THE INTIATION falls into this category.Daphne Zuniga stars as Kelly, a young college student pledging to the Delta Ro Kai sorority and dealing with the hazing that entails. The daughter of wealthy Dwight and Francis (Clu Gulager and Vera Miles), she is resented by at least one sorority sister who makes her initiation unbearable.At the same time Kelly has been dealing with a frightening set of dreams where she sees a burned man. Looking for help she turns to a professor doing research, Peter (James Read). His team studies Kelly and does test on her when she sleeps to help find the reason for her constant battle with these dreams.Both of these issues come to a head when the final test she's put through with her fellow pledges is to spend the night in a mall complex owned by her father. They must get by the guard and perform certain tasks throughout the night. Of course her nemesis in the sorority and a few of her friends have plans to make the night difficult for the pledges. But none of them is aware of a stalker that has been following Kelly with murder in mind. Characters are killed off one by one as we try and figure out who is behind it all. Does it have anything to do with the person in her dreams? Who will survive? The movie is an effective thriller that holds your interest from the get go. The low budget means that everything on the screen is put there with a skill that makes the film look much better than you would think the money would allow. The story is a solid one though done but holds elements of another horror film made just 4 years prior (I won't say what since it would become a major spoiler) that was done better and for more money. Still this movie offers enough differences that it creates its own story and fan base at the same time. It's also great to see actors like Miles and Gulager known for their roles in past horror films given roles here.Arrow Video is releasing this one and as with all their releases they've strived to make it the best. The 1080p restoration is derived from original film elements. Extras include a brand new commentary track by The Hysteria Continues, a new interview with actor Christopher Bradley, a new interview with actress Joy Jones, the theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve with newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn and for the first pressing copies only a collector booklet with new writing on the film by critic James Oliver.If you're a fan a horror films you'll want to pick this up. If you remember the days of perusing the shelves for horror movies at the local mom and pop video stores, you'll want to add this to your shelf. And if you just enjoy a solid movie with a few scares and a decent story then this is one you'll want to see.

I couldn't believe I never heard of this movie before. It came out in 1984 when I was 12 or 13 depending on the month. I am just wondering if it hit the big screen or went straight to video. This movie is SOLID with a great plot that doesn't rely on gore. The Initiation is not your typical sorority horror flick. The plot is simple, a wealth college student pledges for Delta Ro Kai. It is hell week, Kelly along with the other pledges have to pull off a prank. The pledge master gives them a whopper too. Kelly( Daphne Zuniga) is told to get her father's keys to his mall. Her father Dwight Fairchild(Clu Gulager) owns Fairchild mall. Kelly's mother Frances Fairchild(Vera Miles) is a socialite. While she is a pledge she is still having awful nightmare about the same guy who was tragically burned up at her house when she was young. She keeps having them over and over; and feels this will jeopardize her chances of getting in. She decides to met with her psychology T.A., to see what can be learned from them. A close relationship is formed; and she tells about her hopes of joining a sorority. About 2 weeks go by and it is Hell Night and little do the pledges of Delta Ro know that a killer has escaped from the sanatorium near by. The killer is on their way to Kelly's house and then headed toward the University area. The pledges are told about their mission once there. They are to get into the mall and steal the security guards uniform; and to get out. The pledge master also has a few extra things that are involved that the pledges have no idea about. Megan or Alison (I forget which is the pledge master ) has brought some guys, their friends. They are suppose to scare the S**T out of them. At first it's really freaky a desolate mall and the security guard making his rounds. While on his rounds he is surprised and gets killed before the pledges arrive. Once they are there they are wondering where the security guard is. They just what to cheat get an extra uniform from the office and get out. Once there the group splits up, and the killings begin. They are killed one by one, but a twist is exposed at the end. It will literary make you do a W.T.F. moment. It won't take long to understand once you put two and two together. Unlike most horror films this has a somewhat happy ending.I still shake my head, and wonder whatever happened to good horror films like this. It's sad to see most of today's horror films are silly, no plot, and complete trash. The initiation is true horror from the beginning to end. Everyone who likes Carpenter, Craven, Cunningham, etc. should love this hit.

"The Initiation" has future "Melrose Place" star Daphne Zuniga as Kelly Fairchild, a young college student from a wealthy Dallas family who is partaking in pledge week for the initiation into her sorority. Part of the gig is for Kelly and the other pledges to break into Kelly's father's massive shopping mall after hours and steal the night watchman's uniform. Unfortunately for Kelly, someone with murder on the mind is close behind them, and the killer may be linked to a bizarre recurring dream she's suffered from her entire life.Far less Gothic than "Hell Night" and considerably less graceful than "The House on Sorority Row", "The Initiation" stands as one of the weaker Greek-themed slashers. As I always like an underdog, I had looked forward to seeing "The Initiation" for years now, as it's one that has been off my radar for a long time. After finally seeing it, I find it a bit of a problematic film. On one hand, it's extremely satisfying in all its formulae— an unusual nightmare, sorority hazing, dream analysis, a bunch of college kids locked in a mall— the film works within established genre motifs, and it doesn't pretend to do anything other than that. This is all great. But once it hits the 85 minute mark, the film begins to seriously suffer from mishandled pacing, which is troublesome in a film like this in which the final act should be the most robust.It's not that the film's oft-discussed twist ending is unremarkable or problematic either— that's not the problem here— it's just that director Larry Stewart is unable to piece together a cohesive final act in a way that generates the suspense required for us to truly care. The majority of the film is really well done, especially by '80s slasher standards, and it's relatively a slow burn until the kids get to the shopping mall. At that point, the film's tension is sustained throughout the first several murders, but awkward pacing, choppy editing, and an unremarkable score ruin what could have otherwise been a tense and satisfying last hurrah.Hollywood classics Vera Miles and Clu Gulager have supporting roles as Zuniga's wealthy Texan parents, and deliver admirable performances where their main purpose is to lend the film some starpower credibility. Zuniga's performance is lopsided at times but she's an extremely likable and unusual protagonist, and the supporting cast are all worth their salt in a film like this."The Initiation" really is a bit of a melange. It's an enjoyable and engaging film throughout the first several acts, but mysteriously seems to strip itself of any and all suspense in its final fifteen minutes. Worth a look for '80s horror fans no less, though the stumbling of the last act really derails the film. There are some fairly dazzling special effects to be enjoyed as well. Highlights: the dream sequence, the sorority initiation chant, and the brutal murder over the mall intercom. 5/10.

The Initiation is your basic drive in movie programmer all the elements are there a couple of recognizable names and some newcomers tossed together in a poorly written and directed movie. The usual requisites are their hot girls , maniacal killer and a bit of a love story along with some deep secrets. The young actors at the time Daphne Zuniga, the actress now known as Hunter Tylo give their all and are quite good in their roles while the male love interest James Read is your basic wooden mannequin as a lead and totally unbelievable in his role..the story has holes big enough to drive a semi through it but i myself just relish the cheesiness of the film and despite it's shortcomings it is enjoyable so i will give it some slack..and when i was young when this movie was made i remember hunter tylo on all my children and though she was hot as she is today and a couple of scenes that she was in shocked me but sometimes actors have to do things when they are not established enough said..get the popcorn going and enjoy