THE INITIATION is a middling slasher of the 1980s with a few elements to recommend it but which mainly has a jaded, seen-it-all-before feel. The story is about a group of sorority house sisters who decide to spend the night in an old building in order to scare each other to death, but they didn't reckon on the presence of a psychotic killer in the vicinity who works his or her way through the cast, one by one. It's not a particularly gory slasher, although it has its moments, and it's not particularly frightening either. The setting is atmospheric but the characters tend to be annoying more than appealing, with the exception of Daphne Zuniga (SPACEBALLS, THE FLY II) who is very good in the lead role. Vera Miles and Clu Gulager show up playing her parents.

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.

Kelly has horrible nightmares with mirrors and burning men - but her days aren't much easier since she has to deal with Delta Rho Chi sister Megan, who's trying to make pledge Kelly's life hell. Megan decides the pledges' initiation prank will be to sneak into Kelly's dad's store and steal the security guard's uniform. Meanwhile, Kelly starts letting a hunky grad student analyze her dreams. Oh, and there's a big multiple-inmate escape at the insane asylum. These three threads come together on one blood-soaked night.I remember watching The Initiation years ago, but I always get it mixed up with 2 or 3 other similar films from that time. Being able give it my complete attention, I found that I really enjoyed it. The Initiation has everything I look for in an 80s slasher and the characters are actually pretty likable. I can really only think of two problems with it - there's not a lot of gore (even though there's a decent body count) and there's a really stupid out-of-left-field twist at the end. It's not as terrible as the Happy Birthday to Me twist, but it's still goofy. I'm happy that I was able to revisit this one, and you might enjoy it if you enjoy 80s slashers too.

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