The House on Sorority Row

Director - Mark Rosman (Night Shadows)
Starring - Kate McNeil (X-Files), Eileen Davidson (Hell and Mr. Fudge), and Janis Ward (The Munsters Today)
Release Date - 1983
Genre - Horror
Tagline(s) - "Seven graduates of sorority sisters stalked as they hold a guilty secret" "Pledge Theta Pi... and DIE!" "Welcome to the Sorority of Your Nightmares" and "Sorority sisters... Sisters in life. Sisters in death."
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

      A few years back the film Sorority Row was released I kinda wanted to go see it.  I normally don't like theatrical horror but I liked the way this one looked.  I turned to the net to do a little research and discovered it was a remake of The House on Sorority Row.  I love slashers and I was slightly embarrassed I had no idea the original existed.  Growing up I saw a lot of slashers on VHS at the local ma and pa rental store and at one time there was three in town with each one offering up a different selection.  So I was a little baffled when i discovered this one's existence.  Anyway, when I discovered the film was a remake I decided to hold off until I saw the original so I could be like everyone else and bitch because it was remade.
     The film follows seven sorority sisters as they try to have the typical college experience while living under their tyrannical house mother, Mrs. Slater.  Slater is stuck in her old ways and refuse to let the girls have guys over passed a certain hour and absolutely no parties.  One night one of the sorority babes sneaks a man up for a little in out in out action when she catches them.  She stabs the young girls water bed with her sharp cane and runs the boy out.  The young girl vows to get her back and plans a prank involving a gun filled with blanks.  However, that prank goes horribly wrong and she shoots Mrs. Slater.  The sorority sisters try to cover it up all while hosting a graduation party in their sorority house.  In true slasher form the girls start to go missing one by one until they discover that the old bag actually had a son who is now providing his own brand of justice on those that harmed his mother.
     Sometimes you just can't beat a good slasher late at night.  That nostalgic feeling you get when your sitting around in the dark watching an 80's slasher you have never seen before  This reminds me of when I was younger watching the Sleepaway Camp and Friday the 13th series for the first time.  No other viewing experience compares.  I often grab slashers I have never watched and put them up for just when that situation arises.  This movie has a very well rounded cast with most having little to no experience in the horror genre.  No particular actor or actress sticks out but the entire cast did a very good job and helped make the film easy to watch.  The story is your typical slasher formula with the revenge subplot.  In fact, the film could be easily compared to Friday the 13th Part II with the child who is thought to be dead seeking revenge on those that killed his mother.  Though it is not original it is very entertaining and done in such a way it does seem original and very unique.  Finally, the film offers some pretty decent special effects to go along with it's pretty impressive kills.  Overall, this movie is a true definition of a slasher and I highly recommend it.