The House On Sorority Row (Review)
Many horror movies of the 80’s have gone on to great franchises and had great success over many years. Many having different surroundings and locations that seem to fit their moods. In 1983 one film that came out with a bit different of a setting was The House on Sorority Row. Written and directed by Mark Roseman this was his directorial debut; the story came from his experiences in a fraternity and then elements from the French film Les Diaboliques. The story follows seven sorority sisters who decide to pull a prank on their house mother Mrs. Slater.
The movie begins with a young Mrs. Slater in labor, moaning in pain about to give birth. Turns out the child would not live due to complications. Fast forward to modern day, Mrs. Slater comes back to her house where the sorority sisters Katey, Vicki, Liz, Diane, Morgan and Stevie have decided to have the graduation party. Mrs. Slater is totally against this idea and wishes the girls to leave for the summer. To get back they pull a prank on her and the prank goes wrong and Mrs. Slater is killed. Later on at the party the girls are picked off one by one, believed that Mrs. Slater was actually alive they believe she is the one doing the killing. Katey has called the doctor Mrs. Slater has been going to Dr. Beck and explains the situation; he reveals that Mrs. Slater did indeed have a son Named Eric who was horribly deformed from an infertility drug used on his mother. Turns out he was the killer because he saw from the attic window his other being shot by accident when the prank went wrong.
This movie certainly is of the eighties slasher craze and does indeed stand out, most took place in the woods, suburban neighborhoods and such. So a sorority was a bit different and gives you the uneasy feeling that even at school when things go wrong someone or something is always watching. Mrs. Slater, Played by Lois Kelso Hunt does a wonderful job of making you feel uneasy and the stubbornness of the character really comes through. The sorority sisters are all down to earth and for the most part believable. The gore level in the movie is not high but the choice of weapon is interesting that it is the cane Mrs. Slater walked with. The handle has a hook on one end and is used for a good number of the kills in the film. The movie is definitely a typical 80’s slasher but has had a cult following over the years, with a remake that came out in 2009. A film to sit and watch and enjoy the ride it takes you on, a 4.5 out of 10. Watch out when you go to college, hopefully you house mother is okay with pranks and accidental deaths!