The newest entry into the well-trodden slasher genre Initiation from director John Berardo succeeds in tapping into the cultural moment in a way that horror films like the recent misguided remake Black Christmas tried and failed to do. This film begins much as that one does with the pall of a sexual assault lingering over the proceedings. The opening fraternity party covers a great deal of expository ground in very little time as we are introduced to our key characters and future victims. Sibling power duo Ellery Scott (Lindsay LaVanchy, also a co-writer on the film) and Wes Scott (Froy Gutierrez) are shown to have a close relationship despite their differences. Wes is poised to be a future Olympic swimmer, while Ellery serves as the head of her sorority and is shaping up to be a promising scientist. The realities of college life are deftly shown through the mixture of care-free partying with the engrained rules of making sure that everyone is safe and accounted for throughout the night. When one of the sorority sisters, Kylie (Isabella Gomez), is found passed out in a locked room with Wes and the frat leader, Beau (Gattlin Griffith), red flags are immediately put up.
Initiation sets itself apart from the standard-issue millennial horror film by putting character first above all else. The weight that accompanies Kylie’s belief that she was indeed the victim of sexual assault does not just come and go as a exploitative plot point only to be forgotten when the bodies start piling up. LaVanchy is very impressive in the way she brings nuance to the conflicting emotions of Ellery, not knowing if her brother was involved in the assault or what she will do if this suspicion is confirmed. These feelings still linger even when news reaches her that Wes was killed at his fraternity and the perpetrator is still on the loose. Ellery is left to process her conflicting emotions as the film wisely foregoes another victim for an atypical amount of time. Ellery, along with characters such as Kylie or her best friend Shayleen (Shireen Lai), are given time to develop and present with a complexity that most horror movies are afraid to show for fear of losing momentum. The opposite is true, as it is by knowing these characters more intimately that we care about their fates.
Even setting aside the social significance of the feature, the way in which it handles the standard horror elements is mighty impressive. Scenes with the killer taking out one person after another are shot in a way that is unnerving in its no-frills approach. The thrill of the chase from room to room has been a stalwart of the genre, but this particular killer typically gets right to business. They move with a confidence that does not register as superhuman but conjures the right amount of dread. The death scenes are brutal but do not linger for pure shock value. To say that the film earns its R-rating would be an understatement. You also have to love that for the most part the characters we care about the most do not make maddening decisions in their tension-filled bid for survival. The film never feels like it is talking down to the audience, a courtesy that is extended to the final thematically satisfying reveal that balances surprise with believability.
At the end of the day, you have to appreciate how carefully this film explores the splintering effects of trauma, the insidious institutions that are complicit in hiding away unpleasant accusations and many more tangential discussions to this core theme. These beliefs are core to the DNA of the narrative, but it is never presented in a way that feels preachy or distracting to the horror on screen. All of the elements of the screenplay work together to create an essential, entertaining story. Much credit should be given to the creative team behind the scenes of this one, as a low-budget horror-thriller such as this one could have easily been a forgettable exercise. I only needed to be entertained for a little while, but I was delightfully surprised to find a brain behind the surface-level allure. If you are tired of the same old song and dance when it comes to the slasher genre, give this one your time.
Video Quality
Initiation comes to Blu-Ray in a detailed 1080p presentation in its 2.39:1 original aspect ratio that truly wows in high definition. The clarity throughout is outstanding with subtle flourishes in the production design coming through perfectly. Color saturation is great with the color palette presenting with almost garish splashes of color including strong purples in some of the party scenes. Skin tones are natural to the lighting conditions, although a lot of exposed skin is covered in all manner of cuts or much worse as the story goes alongs. There are also a few moments where light hits the face of certain characters and there is an almost digital appearance to the shadow. True black levels are pretty deep and do not fall victim to any noticeable digital noise or errors of the sort. This is especially helpful considering the finale of the film takes place largely in darkness. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has delivered a stellar high definition presentation here.
Audio Quality
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is extremely engaging, and it never fails to deliver something truly pleasing. The soundscape on display here is very rich with the lively world displaying noises emanating from numerous directions. This film is not meant to be a full-throttle action film, but there are moments where certain kinetic sequences pack a bigger punch that one might expect. Whenever the killer uses his weapon of choice, the track really digs deep. Dialogue comes through crystal clear with none of the information feeling lost to the music in the film or the sound effects. The movie uses environmental sounds to great effect, and the track retains strong detail even in the more chaotic developments. There are numerous moments that make good use of the low end. The track is an unexpected powerhouse from start to finish.
Special Features
- Hidden Secrets – Surviving Initiation: A surprisingly in-depth 30-minute featurette in which the cast and crew discuss their influences, the genesis of this project, topics they wanted to tackle in the screenplay, creating the look for the feature, the casting process, crafting the mask, lighting the film and much more. This is a wonderful supplement that is worth a look.
- The Final Twist – Post-Production: A seven-minute piece which explores how the creative team wanted to tackle the role of social media on screen without compromising the flow of the story.
Final Thoughts
Initiation is a surprisingly great addition to the slasher genre as it elevates and improves on many of the most tired conventions in an exciting way. The creative team behind the scenes have something important to say with the violence enacted here, and those in front of the camera match them beat for beat with strong performances all around. The key is giving the audiences characters they can become invested in which allows you to care about whether or not they are going to make it out alive. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a strong A/V presentation and a few decent supplemental features. Recommended
Initiation is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
