The Initiation

What's a fan of actress Daphne Zuniga supposed to do to become even more familiar with her acting resume? Why, run out and pick up a copy of the new Arrow Video Blu-ray "The Initiation," a slice-and-dice low-budget shocker that features the "Melrose Place" star in her first acting gig.

A brand new 2K restoration from Arrow has occurred to bring this little-known 1984 slasher back to the masses. Zuniga appears in practically every scene, playing Kelly, a confused college student that has recurring nightmares about her childhood. If this wasn't bad enough, Kelly tries her best to become part of a sorority and one that uses unorthodox initiation methods.

When her sorority sisters find out that Kelly's father owns a local mall, the party gals hole up for the night in the abandoned mall (for the film's last half hour) and it just so happens that an unknown killer is hiding in the murky shadows of the shopping plaza.

"The Initiation," while hardly original, takes elements from soap operas and dramas in its writing approach; it's a unique spin on the tried-and-true 1980's slasher formula. To up the horror movie quotient, "Psycho" star Vera Miles plays Zuniga's secretive mother and has about 15 minutes of screen time. She's a class act all the way in her brief appearance.

Three interview segments complement Arrow Video's sometimes grainy film presentation and while none feature Zuniga or Miles, they offer some interesting tidbits.

"Sorority Saga" - a interview with writer Charles Pratt Jr. who talks about the soap opera style he wrote in and the fact that the original director of "The Initiation" was fired

"Pledge Night" - actor Christopher Bradley discusses his small role and offers up memories of the conflicts between Zuniga and director Larry Stewart

"Dream Job" - actress Joy Jones sits down for a 13-minute interview and reminisces about the Detroit film shoot and her mostly theater-based career

"The Initiation"
Blu-ray
$39.99
www.arrowvideo.uk.co