Granted, THE INITATION doesn't compare favorably to the best slasher films like HALLOWEEN or the original Friday THE 13TH, but even so it's a surprisingly successful horror film buoyed to some degree by a mystery element that, if ultimately unbelievable, still adds immeasurably to the usual formula of young people being killed by a crazy murderer.

Daphne Zuniga stars as a sorority pledge whose usual college problems are magnified by a long history of recurring nightmares. Her parents assure her the dreams are nothing to be afraid of, but our heroine is determined to make peace with her inner demons and put the strange nightmare behind her once and for all. Meanwhile an unknown stalker is hunting her family and friends, and everything comes to a head in a shopping mall after hours from which the killer is determined no one will escape.

THE INITIATION is fairly well-written and directed, with a strong cast (including Clu Gulager and Vera Miles) and some highly effective murder sequences. Though not as bloody as some other slasher films, the movie still packs a visceral punch, and the suspense factor is high as well. The young people who make up most of the film's cast are for the most part quite likable, except for the sorority queen and her drones, so that when they are in danger the viewer really feels it. The lovely Daphne Zuniga does a fine job in her first big feature role, but she gets some surprisingly strong support from her co-stars, including the stunningly beautiful Hunter Tylo (here acting under the name Deborah Morehart). The thrills culminate in a feverish climax with more than one big reveal.

Again, THE INITIATION isn't a horror classic, but it is a solid slasher that hits all the right notes and benefits from a relatively ambitious script which incorporates both mystery and solid characterization. Definitely among the top tier of films in the slasher canon.

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.

This is my review for the film The Intiation and it shall have several spoilers throughout.

The film begins at a house with a group of sorority sisters. Some of the students at college are pledging to become sorority sisters with the sisterhood being lead by Megan we have Kelly,Alison,Beth and Marcia who will have to take part in an initiation before they become part of the group. The are allowed to have a few more days of fun before they are given their initiation.

Meanwhile Kelly has been having repetitive nightmares for years about a young girl who enters a room to her parents and witnesses a confrontation between them and a man who is set alight on fire. She tells one of her tutors about this who along with another one of his students gives her some therapy and tries to get her to understand and piece together the meaning of her dreams.

At the beginning of the following week Kelly,Alison,Beth and Marcia are due to carry out their initiation which is being given by Megan to break into Kelly's fathers department store and steal a specific item to be used as a souvenir within a time period. Beth gets into an argument with Megan and is eliminated from being part of the sisterhood.

The girls go to the department store to fulfill their pledge whilst Megan and a couple of her friends sneak into the store with the intent on making things more difficult for them all. The students are all oblivious to the fact that on the same night a mental patient from a psychiatric ward has escaped with murder on their mind.

I enjoyed The Initiation because even though it began with a familiar scenario like that of many of 1980's films in a house and with a sisterhood of some girls what were not a part of wanted to do things in order to be inclusive i like the fact that many of the films scenes were located in a department store which proved to be effective for the suspense and chase scenes. The film also worked as a thriller that was not a simple and straight forward as some others when predicting the plot. I also thought several of the characters were likable from Hunter Tylo's portrayal of Alison who was fun,entertaining and at times naughty to Vera Miles who plays Frances the mother of Kelly that harbors a dark secret to Marilyn Kagen who plays Marcia who was sweet and probably the most mature out of the girls and the way she tells her friends a story about her past even had me a little shocked which added a more serious tone to her character. Daphne Zuniga as Kelly played a worthy and dynamic performance too! The films production values, special effects and music were also professional for a horror film of 1984.

I would rate this film 6 out of 10.