By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Recently, I watched and reviewed the 2006 ABC Family remake of The Initiation of Sarah. I thought it was lackluster and only rated it a 3/10. In the review, I mentioned how the original was so much better. I hadn’t watched the original in some time and noticed that Netflix had it on their instant watch selection.
The remake is coincidentally on the Amazon Prime Instant Watch for free. Anyone who has Amazon Prime and Netflix can watch and compare the two if they have free time and nothing better to do. At 2:15 A.M. and suffering from insomnia, I am sadly in that position; but I guess there are worse things to do with my time.
Nonetheless, the movie opens with Sarah (Kay Lenz) at the beach with her sister Patty (Morgan Brittany). Patty is enjoying herself with one of the boys in the water when he suddenly becomes too rough. He starts to force himself on her. Sarah witnesses the entire thing and unable to contain herself anymore uses her powers to make him fall backwards.
Patty and Sarah arrive at college and are greeted by Alpha Nu Sigma which is the same sorority that their mother had been a part of. Patty instantly fits in. She dresses the part and everyone including the leader Jennifer (Morgan Fairchild) is very nice and welcoming to her.
Sarah is a different story. She dresses very plain and wears barely any make-up if any at all. The group all but ignores her thus she feels very out of place.
The sisters relay that they are unsure about joining, and Jennifer seems very understanding. She even encourages them to seek out other sororities to be certain they want to join.
Patty knows that the A.N.S. doesn’t want Sarah and she calls her mother (Kathryn Grant) for advice. Mrs. Goodwin surprisingly tells her to look out for herself and to become an Alpha Nu.
The next day the girls find out whether they were accepted. Patty of course got in, but Sarah was rejected. She did however get into another sorority Phi Epsilon Delta or the PED.
Immediately, Sarah and Patty learn how awful the sorority is as they make Patty make an oath. Right in front of Sarah, Jennifer makes Patty declare that the PED are “Pigs Elephants and Dogs and that she will not associate with them at all.” Patty pleads with Jennifer not to make her do it, but to no avail. Patty gives in and Sarah runs off upset.
Later Jennifer apologizes and offers to turn down the initiation, but Sarah insists she become an Alpha Nu as it’s something she knows her sister wants desperately.
Sarah meets her PED sisters and everyone seems very cordial. Unlike the ANS, there is no “hell week” where the new members have to do stupid tasks. At PED everyone does what they want. The only oddity is a room that is locked. No one knows what is on the other side of the door except the housemother Mrs. Erica Hunter (Shelly Winters) who holds the key.
Sarah is oddly attracted to the door and the mystery that surrounds it. She is also curious about the rivalry between ANS and PED. Both Patty and Sarah ask their sorority sisters about it, but few have any answers.
Soon, the rivalry gets out of control and Sarah begins using her psychic and telekinetic powers to get revenge on those who wronged her.
The 70s and 80s made great made-for-TV movies and this is no exception. It’s interesting, fun and even has a few chilling moments. Though it isn’t terrifying, the unnerving atmosphere is present throughout.
The acting is fantastic. Morgan Fairchild is used so perfectly in her role as the mega-bitch. Fairchild is one of the most gorgeous actresses ever to set foot on screen and her acting talent is best shown when she portrays a real wench.
It’s always a treat to see Shelly Winters as well. I particularly loved her in The Poseidon Adventure which was another 1970s gem.
The entire cast did a sensational job and this played out as a film that could have easily been successful on the big screen.
The last 10 minutes is the scariest segment within the movie and it’s done remarkably well. Though the entire movie is captivating, the last scenes are filled with tension and intrigue. The choices that Sarah has to make all seem like horrific options and the one she chooses is surprising.
I wish that the minds that brought us the films in the 70s and 80s were able to assist those in filmmaking today. The remake, though admittedly aimed at a younger audience, was unable to bring forth any of the emotions that the original had.
Plainly, once again the 70s got it right. They understood horror and didn’t pull any punches.
The Initiation of Sarah is most certainly a must-see.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10
