Search - The Initiation on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1984 DVD Release: 09/10/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 37 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Horror, Slasher Film

The appealing Daphne Zuniga makes her inauspicious debut in this dreary slasher film as a pampered freshman sorority pledge haunted by memory lapses and bizarre, violent dreams involving her parents (Clu Gulager and Vera Miles). Despite some progress in dream-research, her condition becomes dangerously unstable during a Hell Week initiation stunt -- held after hours in her father's shopping mall -- further abetted by the discovery that a psychopathic killer has escaped from the local asylum. It's no surprise to learn where said killer turns up next, nor is it much of a challenge determining the killer's identity (a clue: Zuniga's nightmares are actually repressed memories). The cast is summarily whittled down, courtesy of several sharp implements looted from various sporting goods and gardening departments, leaving the filmmakers to tie the loose ends together for the ridiculously contrived climax. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Vera Miles - Frances Fairchild
Clu Gulager - Dwight Fairchild
Daphne Zuniga - Kelly Terry
James Read - Peter
Marilyn Kagan - Marcia

The ceremony will never die in the '80s horror film The Initiation. Anchor Bay's work on this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is excellent save for a small amount of grain and edge enhancement that creeps into the image every now and then. Otherwise, this picture features solid colors and dark black levels, making for a very presentable transfer that should please fans. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono in English and sounds, not surprisingly, flat and very unimpressive. While the bulk of this track is free of any excessive hiss or distortion, overall it lacks any type of fidelity or range. No alternate soundtracks or subtitles are included on this disc. The sole extra feature available on =The Initiation is a theatrical trailer for the film, making this a nearly bare-bones release. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide