I used to consider myself an aficionado of horror films. I started out watching “Dark Shadows” with my parents and pretty much went from there. I was well rounded enough to still enjoy pretty much every other genre, but horror was one that I seemed to gravitate to. Despite my encyclopedic knowledge of all things horror, my attention was recently drawn to a new DVD release of “The House on Sorority Row.” I remembered the film, new quite a bit about it… then came to the realization that I had never actually seen it. This was a travesty I had to repair, so I made sure to get a copy into my hot little hands. When I received the disc, I was impressed by the upgraded cover art as done by Liberation Entertainment. I remembered seeing the cover of an earlier release from Elite which was a little bland. This new cover uses the original artwork, but it looks cleaner and more colorful.

The fact that it is emblazoned with a banner that reads ‘25th Anniversary Edition’ helps quite a bit as well. I was rather excited when the disc arrived as the film had, over the years, become a bit of a cult classic. And again, here I was having not ever seen it. Shame on me.

“The House on Sorority Row” was released at a time when ‘slasher films’ were king. There has been a resurgence lately, and unfortunately several ‘slasher film’ remakes, but none really capture the bizarre charm and style of those that came before. Back in the day, these films took a rather twisted glee in being a different form of entertainment. Today’s ‘slasher films’ are more polished and clean, which renders them inconsequential. The victims are fodder, and so stereotypical you can also see a number on their backs to tell you when they are going to die in the movie. Give me the original “Prom Night” or “My Bloody Valentine” any day. Oh, and add “The House on Sorority Row”, now that I’ve seen it.

As you might have guessed from the title, the movie takes place in a sorority house. The house mother (Lois Kelso Hunt), we learn right off the bat has a painful history from which she has never quite recovered. (This was in the day before detailed background checks). Not one to be very popular with her charges to begin with, she puts the kibosh on an end-of-the-year party. Unwilling to take no for an answer, the girls decide to have the party anyway… and to play a little joke on the unsuspecting house mother. But we all know how college sorority jokes go, don’t we? Before you know it the group finds themselves with a dead body on their hands and only moments to make a quick decision on what to do. Of course, their decision is a bad one and as the party rages on, the body count climbs.

“The House on Sorority Row” was a low budget film, even by the standards of the day. But director Mark Rosman was fortunate to have put together a cast of young actresses (or I guess today they all go by ‘actor’) willing to go the extra mile for a movie. Even though most had never acted before, most of them did an admirable job in the roles they were assigned, there were a few stereotypes but they weren’t over the top like you find in most films today. Some even went on to have bigger careers. Eileen Davidson for example went on to have a lucrative career on the TV soap “Young and the Restless.” The acting here was all very natural and realistic to the situation they find themselves in.

Even from a production standpoint, everyone involved did their jobs well. The editing and cinematography added a lot to the suspense of the film, a factor that again is generally a throw away in more modern ‘slasher films.’ Every shot was important to set a mood or create a sense of impending dread and they were successful in this. As the film was meant to be more character driven and not so much run by special effects, the few effects they had were quick and to the point. They didn’t have to linger on anything to make it strike home.

Liberation Entertainment has released great DVD edition of “The House on Sorority Row.” It’s an older low budget film, so there is some obvious wear even in this new transfer. However, instead of being detrimental it actually adds to the classic feel of the movie. It looks as good as it should. You also have two choices for sound mixes, 2.0 and 5.0. Either works well, but you might as well go for the 5.0 if you have the system.

The extras here are few, but they are totally worth it. You’ll find a commentary by Rosman, along with actresses Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeill. This is hands down, one of the best commentaries I’ve listened to in a long time. Aside from all of the great anecdotes you hear about the making of the film, there is a lot of self-deprecating humor from all involved. They make fun, they make jokes and there is little doubt they are having the time of their lives recording this commentary. There are also some storyboard comparisons, a photo gallery and a trailer for the movie. But that commentary is the best!

Forget the remake of “The House on Sorority Row” that came out last year… oh… you already did… good. Go for the gold and get the original!!

Directed by: Mark Rosman
Starring: Kathryn McNeil, Eileen Davidson
Extras: Original Theatrical Trailer; Commentary by Mark Rosman, Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeill; Storyboard Comparison; Photo Gallery
Specification: Widescreen; Dolby Digital 5.0; Dolby Digital 2.0
Studio: Liberation Entertainment
Release Date: 01/12/2010
MPAA Rating: R
http://www.libent.com/

We'll give The House on Sorority Row: 25th Anniversary an A.