The Initiation

I love this slasher so very much, and in anticipation of the upcoming DVD, I am posting a new thread on this slasher classic.

This superb film is one of my top 5 favorite slasher films of all time! Seriously, I think this film is criminally underrated, and it shouldn't be, because this film is excellent.

Daphne Zuniga is pretty good as the heroine (and hot too ), and it was nice seeing ROTLD's Clu Gulager (sp?) in this film. The killings are great, even though they aren't very graphic. I loved them despite the little gore. The atmospheric mall is like no mall I've ever seen before, and is a wonderful and creepy setting. The ending is pretty groovy and unexpected too. And of course there is some good ol' nudity, and the girls that get naked are indeed pretty damn hot (Zuniga doesn't get naked though ).

Honestly, I love this film, and I have been eagerly anticipating the DVD release all year! I will definitely be getting it! What do you all think of this superb slasher?

[rhett]

Never even heard of it! What is it about?

I haven't seen this one since good ol' Video Village let me rent it in its cool plastic Thorn EMI case. I remember it being not boring. That's about it, but "not boring" is high praise for a lot of slasher movies! I'd be down with checking this one out on DVD.

Hey Rhett! The Initiation is about a girl (the pretty hot Daphne Zuniga) and her friends who must go into a mall at night and steal the nightwatchman's uniform to be initiated into a sorority. Also, she has amnesia about when she was younger and keeps having a weird nightmare. Well, they get stuck in there with a killer who may be a part of her past. It is a very good and creepy film that you should check out.

Ya I just bought a really old VHS in the total of it's time in the store it was rented 4 times 2 of which were me so the guy gave it to me!!! I enjoy it on many levels (actual plot and you can find it hard to figure out who the killer is!!! The film is one of the most underrated films ever it's up there with My Bloody Valentine and The Carpenter!!!

Hello all! I just read Dave's review of the upcoming AB DVD of this slasher classic, and it gave me the urge to resurrect my old thread. Any other fans of this great slasher?

[rhett]

Great review Dave, I am definitely going to pick this up ASAP. I tried looking for this on VHS after you mentioned it Cuje, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I can't wait to see it.

Yeah, I have the VHS and this is definitely a cool slasher with a few good twists. Only thing is that I'm really curious what the cover will be. Dave has the poster with his review and doesn't include the front/back cover for some reason. I hope it is the original "phallic" cover as similar to the poster shown and not some new-fangled copout. (course these are "minor" quibbles)

[WesReviews]

It's on Anchor Bay's list for this year. I'd say it'll come out around Oct. or Nov. Can't wait to see this one.

So, now that the DVD of this classic is FINALLY out (I bought it this past Tuesday, YAY! ), are there anymore thoughts on it? I'm happy to say it is still one of my top 5 favorite slasher films!

Did it keep the original artwork?

[shift]

I wish there was Extras


Also does any1 know what actual MALL they were in this movie?

I am thinking it was located in Houston, Tx

Thats a big ass mall!!

[KillerCannabis]

Sounds decent, maybe I'll have to give it a rent sometime. I like the sound of the plot, but I dont like Zuniga. Maybe the movie will be good enough for me to forget about her being in it.

I also like this slasher film. Nice atmosphere and gore. And I don't mind Zuniga at all.

[rhett]

I finally got myself a copy of this (thanks shift!) and watched it last night. I thought it was a good little slasher. Some of those POV shots of the killer were extremely well done, especially the very creepy shot of the killer coming from

Spoiler: the end of the driveway all the way to kill the Fairchild owner

. I also liked the way the film addressed dreams and Freud. It really picked up in the shopping mall, and the final revelation was pretty cool.

I must say though, I did find the film to be fairly predictable, but for an 80's slasher that is just fine. The fact that the killer was

Spoiler: the twin was pretty heavily foreshadowed during the scene at the sanitarium, where it showed the red herring father, but refused to show the girl looking at the father

. The movie faltered a bit by trying to spoon feed the audience all the facts over and over, especially the stuff about Freud and mirrors. It was an ambitious story, and I think it would have worked even better had it been more understated.

Still though, this isn't high art, it is a slasher, and I had a good time with this one. Some nice T&A, gore and atmosphere kept me happy throughout. Not a classic, but definitely a good slasher film. Thanks for the recommendations guys!