They’ve pledged to be sisters … to the end. Years after a violent and terrifying event from her childhood, Beth embarks on a new life in college. Upon joining a sorority, she gets a strange feeling from the house … it seems eerily familiar. Plagued by nightmares of a knife-wielding killer, Beth tries to settle in and be one of the girls. But little does she know that her past is coming back to haunt her and her new friends in this ’80s slasher classic.

For thoughts on Sorority House Massacre, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Scream Factory presents Sorority House Massacre with a marvelous 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was last released on Blu-Ray by Scream Factory in 2023 as a website exclusive that was created from a new 2K scan. We didn’t have a chance to grab that release before it sold out, but the success of that release has led to a swift 4K UHD upgrade that slasher fans will really appreciate.

This disc preserves the coarse natural film grain which brings out a panorama of vital texture in the titular house, the outfits, the bloody special effects, and more. The makeup effects present with visceral clarity which makes the work all the more shocking. This grain resolves evenly with nothing ever appearing splotchy or erratic throughout both the daytime and nighttime scenes. This disc approaches every environmental shift with confidence. This transfer has done a commendable job of cleaning up nearly all print damage with very little in the way of specks remaining. This is complemented by a steadfast encode which does not come up short.

A standout aspect of the viewing experience is the addition of Dolby Vision which taps into all of the nuances of the film stocks. This is not the most traditionally gorgeous feature, but every scene is presented with the necessary care to look its best. From the exploration of the rooms in the sorority house to the stylized flashbacks experienced by Beth, this disc provides a complex palette of colors that reach their greatest level of accuracy. Black levels are deep with no unsightly crush present, and the highlights remain firm and never get too bright. This is most certainly the best the film has looked on home entertainment, and it is likely the definitive presentation for fans.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio dual mono track which translates this experience without issue. Dialogue comes through with favorable clarity even during the more tense developments as trouble arrives at the house. The fidelity of the movie is rock solid no matter the sonic demands. The low end of the track conjures some texture within its mono roots. The Michael Wetherwax score sounds robust without obvious damage. It helps settle you in an appropriate atmosphere which aids the experience. Environmental noises such as the chatting of the sorority sisters or running water come through with a defined quality. Scream Factory provided an exquisite audio experience for this one. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

The Final Girl – A Guide to Surviving Slasher Films: A new 20-minute featurette with Dr. Richard Howell, author of Blood Money: A History of the First Teen Slasher Film Cycle, and film historian Amanda Reyes, author of Are You In the House Alone?, in which they discuss the history of final girls and how the trope was handled in the early days of slasher films.

Extended UK VHS Cut with Additional Footage (1:29:52 – Unrestored)

Interviews: An array of archival interviews is provided with key creative figures from the movie and film historians in which they discuss how they came to be a part of the film, memories from the set, inspirations from classic Hollywood, the legacy of the film, and more.

- A Nightmare On Sorority Row – An Interview with Actress Angela O’Neill (17:51)

- A Slash Course In Terror: Inside Sorority House Massacre – An Interview with Author/Film Historian Amanda Reyes (17:35)

- Sorority Pledge – An Interview with Executive Producer Roger Corman (2:29)

- Sorority Sister – An Interview with Actor Nicole Rio (21:28)

- Sorority Brother – An Interview with Actor Vinnie Bilancio (17:53)

Theatrical Trailer (1:37)

Final Thoughts

Sorority House Massacre is a decent slasher that makes things a bit more interesting by weaving in some vaguely supernatural elements. Many characters are written with a ridiculous lack of common sense that will have you screaming at the screen before their untimely demise. The kills are executed well enough, and the extremely brief runtime keeps you from constantly checking the clock to see how much time is left. It is not the pinnacle of the genre, but it does the trick if you are particularly fond of the space. Scream Factory has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a top-tier A/V presentation and a valuable array of special features. Recommended

Sorority House Massacre (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory 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.