the initiation

Much like concerned citizens adopt a lonely stretch of highway to keep clean, horror fans are prone to adopt particular slasher films out of the goodness of their heart. The biggies like Halloween and Friday the 13th don't need much tending, but lesser-known, homegrown outings like The Mutilator and Happy Birthday to Me require a good amount of effort to appreciate; and perhaps that's what makes them all the more likable. 1984's The Initiation fits the bill perfectly, with a perpetual puppy-dog expression from star Daphne Zuniga, a supporting cast of likable Texas locals as cannon fodder and a soap opera twist that's just as enjoyable the 10th time you watch it as the 1st.

As part of a pledge week prank, Kelly Fairchild (Zuniga in her first leading role) and some of her follow sorority members sneak into the local mall after hours. But the double-dare turns deadly when a killer begins to stalk them through the stores, picking them off with arrows, axes and anything else that's handy. Kelly, whose been tortured by dreams of her father's death all her life, suspects there's something in her family history to blame. But could she be her own worst enemy?

A bit late to the party, The Initiation recycles some of the most common slasher tropes: tragic childhood prologue, horny co-eds, faceless killer and a plucky final girl. But the screenplay by Charles Pratt, Jr., who would go on to become head writer for General Hospital, All My Children and even Melrose Place, is seeped in soap opera twists and turns with a dirty family secret behind it all and a foggy flashback that holds the key to the killer's identity.

Of course, the surprise reveal is what most folks remember about the film...if they remember it at all. But The Initiation is more about the journey than the destination. Shot in Dallas with a cast of mostly local actors (including model / actress Hunter Tylo), there's an infectious enthusiasm to the production; and the unique setting makes it stand out amidst the summer camp slasher clones. Replacement director Larry Stewart (the original was fired after two days of shooting) doesn't bring much style, but he gets a good performance out of Zuniga, who makes for a compelling victim / suspect.

Arrow Video's Blu-ray is the first-ever presentation of the film on hi-def and, other than some intentionally muted photography off the top, it looks very nice. Extras include lengthy interviews with cast members Joy Jones and Christopher Bradley and another with writer Charles Pratt, Jr. who provides the most of the dirt on the production. An audio commentary from The Hysteria Continues podcast team is a bit more chummy than enlightening, but still drops some interesting facts. The original theatrical trailer and a collector's booklet complete the package.