The sinister visions and nightmare story plots that plagued the television screens of the 1970s were enough to fill a wide chasm and continued programming-schedules that stretched into the 80s and beyond. When Carrie [1976] was released, it was obvious that it was going to inspire many other filmmakers however this obscure movie is more of a blatant rip-off almost identical to that film, with just slight changes which will be discussed in this review. Nevertheless, this is not the first television horror flick to tackle the subject of telekinesis that would be The Spell; in addition, in 1978 quite a slew of films emerged on the same subject material among them Patrick, The Medusa Touch, and Jennifer. Director Robert Day, whose previous contributions to the horror genre came in the form of The Haunted Strangler and Corridors of Blood both released in 1958 relied on writing duties provided by four separate parties. Tom Holland who came up with the story along with Carol Saraceno, who also contributed to the teleplay with Kenette Gfeller and Don Ingalls. One thing a few of the writers did was to incorporate some personal moments in the attempt to attract a broader audience of the smaller screen as it aired on, Monday, February 6th on the ABC channel.

ASN vs. PED

The story opens with Sarah Goodwin (Kay Lenz (House [1985])) and her foster sister Patty (Morgan Brittany) who encounters a sexual assault in the ocean soon enough Sarah shows a hint of her hidden power to stop the harm. The hard switch to the two women filling up a car head off to college (the actual California Institute of Technology, served as the location) the girls make the promise to stick together during Greek rush pledge week. Soon enough problems arise Patty is a legacy (her mother was a sorority sister) of Alpha Sigma Nu (ASN) they accept only beautiful girls. Hence Patty was accepted, and Sarah is plain and rejected though it goes further they aren’t associated ever, regardless of the location, nice way to divide a family. Patty goes along with the rules while Sarah joins a rival sorority called Pie Epsilon Delta (that others cruelty nicknamed as Pigs, Elephants, and Dogs) who has a true House Mother, Mrs. Erica Hunter (Shelley Winters) who is both over-caring and the girls herein are more of introverted and serious about their studies. At ASN they embodied the Stephen King’s version bitchy, stuck-up mean girls lead by Jennifer Lawrence (Morgan Fairchild (American Horror House [2012], which is a sorority house film)) she’s the alpha, the rest present as typical one-dimensional stock characters. Sarah is the victim of hurling insults, sinister tactics, and humiliating-demoralizing attacks that substitute mud and eggs for the pig’s blood found in Carrie. However, before that occurs we witness a series suggestive discussion between Sarah and Erica concerning her telekinetic powers, through any hint of supernatural elements are heavily downplayed until late in the third act. There’s a brief encounter with a fellow PED sister Mouse (Tisa Farrow (Zombie [1979]) that hints to closeted and well-guarded subtexts about herself, how the other girls are perceived this again remember is 1978 hence the beliefs of a male dominated world are in full display, even in the writing for the film. In the second act the story begins slow  instead of speeding up, fewer psychic phenomenon occurs, also it is not clear how no one knows about her power, not even her close sister, never anything prompted the scenario made it occurred.

The film does try to distance itself from Carrie, but the only direction is more bonkers how so – well this goofy suggestion that Sarah was born as a plot to exact revenge 18-years after tragedy struck a house mother whose pagan rites were her original downfall. Hence instead of godly, religious adherence we witness rituals, twisted witchcraft, and a battle between two sororities. This strange shift has Sarah making a puzzling attack to try to cleanse off evil abilities, it becomes a bit loony.

Therefore, as promised let’s look at the similarities between Carrie and this film Initiation (for short), The lead character in the 1976 film as Carrie, in high school who has to deal with very mean girl students and high religious mother, as she tries to cope, she’s comforted by a caring gym teacher and is invited to attend the prom with a star football player but final insult pig’s blood poured on her. Here, Sarah is attending college her adversary is a sorority of uppity young women, she’s accepted at a sorority of supposedly social rejects, but comforted by a pagan house mother and consoling assistant professor, Paul Yates (Tony Bill (Are You in the House Alone [1978]))  she’s invited on a date with Frat Brother Scott (Robert Hays (Paranormal Movie [2013])) but is humiliating by being attacked with mud and eggs. The similarities are easily presented and there might be a few more of these the main highlights. For example, here is some more the lead adversary position of the humble girl Carrie/Sarah was blonde and the leader of the mean girls’ group and conclusion to both films is very similar when involving Piper/Shelley.

Now for those are keen of locations you’ll likely notice the beach used was the Leo Carrillo State Beach so very popular in nearly 100 films among the I Walked with a Zombie [1943]  and Attack of the Crab Monsters [1957].

As for where the film, it goes off the tracks as it tries to blend Satan’s School for Girls [1973] and Carrie to have an occult ceremony with chanting pagan rites, hence clearly Winters was to be made-for-tv version Piper Laurie’s character.  Then there’s the campy climax, though Lenz does bring a lot of warranted sympathy to her portrayal of Sarah, while Winters gives a kooky performance, and can make one wonder how her character was on campus nearly 20-years ago. Yet, with all the comparisons the film still holds some entertaining values but be forewarned so much of the film foreshadows quite a bit and understand as a tv-movie it was designed to have commercial breaks at normal set times so the scripted scene might seem off especially as the time an upswing to encourage a viewer to return with their intent intact.

It should be noted that this film was remade in 2006, as another television movie for those who are curious.

TAGLINES:

• An innocent coed, a secret sorority, its bizarre rights of womanhood… Suddenly, a quiet college campus is plunged into an endless night of terror!
• She was born with devastating psychic powers. And she’s forced to unleash them in a shocking finale!’

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077735/

IMDb Rating: 5.6/10

Baron’s Rating: 5.0/10