Blu-ray Review: The Initiation of Sarah

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Back in the ’70s TV movies had a bit of bite to them. They had to tone down the language, avoid bloody gore and tease any nudity. Even with a PG Rating, the movies that ran on the three major networks figured out ways to not look inferior to movies that were running in theaters. Like how filmmakers figured out clever ways around the harsh Hayes Code, directors and producers of TV movies during this time came up with creative ways to the viewers at home were eager to tell their co-workers and classmates about what they saw the night before. On Groundhog’s Day in 1978, ABC aired a movie that had everyone talking about college life. The Initiation of Sarah was a supernatural tale of what really goes on at a posh university’s sorority row.

Sarah and Patty Goodwin are getting ready to enroll at college and they have big plans. Patty (Dallas‘ Morgan Brittany) is the more outgoing and wants to join Alpha Nu Sigma sorority. It’s what mom did. Sarah is low key and isn’t too eager to join. She was adopted so she doesn’t feel the same obligation. This is good since Alpha Nu Sigma isn’t into Sarah. They just want Patty. She’s really their type. Jennifer Lawrence (The Seduction‘s Morgan Fairchild) is such a snob and enjoys splitting the sisters. That doesn’t mean Sarah is stuck in the dorm. She gets accepted by Phi Epsilon Delta. This place isn’t into the brats and sucking up like their rival. She gets the invitation because Mouse (Anthropophagus‘ Tisa Farrow) likes her. This isn’t great because Jennifer refers to that sorority as Pigs, Elephants and Donkeys. There’s something special about Sarah. Turns out she has telekinetic powers. This is first demonstrated at the start of the film when she uses them to fight off a guy that’s attacking Patty during a beach party. The only other person on campus that has a hint of Sarah’s power is the Phi Epsilon Delta house mother (Lolita‘s Shelley Winters). She wants Sarah to be part of the dark secret about the sorority house. But will Sarah go along with the master plan of the initiation rites?

While The Initiation of Sarah is a TV movie, the producers figured out ways to make this a very entertaining exploitation film. There is quite a bit of scantily clothed sorority sisters. I’m not going to spoil the movie except to say that they figured out how to sneak in a shower scene with more than one person behind the glass door. There’s an unspoken crush between Mouse and Sarah that’s kinda risky for 1978. Making it truly an event movie is the Satanic element of one of the sororities. There’s a lot of Carrie references in the film including the casting of Michael Talbott (Miami Vice) who was bully in Carrie. In a sense this is Carrie Goes to College. The filmmakers however don’t give us a pig blood bath. The film goes its own way with an impressive Queen Bee performance from Morgan Fairchild. The Initiation of Sarah is a perfect reason to once more spend the night at home.

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. This looks so much better than when you watched it back in 1978 on standard definition analog cable. The audio is DTS-HD MA Mono. The levels are fine so you can hear all those great ’70s sounds. The movie is subtitled.

Audio Commentary by Amanda Reyes includes real life background on the sorority houses. She points out that one of the stars was also in Carrie.

Welcome to Hell Week (16:33) has Stacie Ponder and Anthony Hudson from “The Gaylords of Darkness” podcast dig into the movie. They point out the duplicate element to the characters and a few of the stealth items.

Cracks in the Sisterhood (14:48) lets Alexandra Heller-Nicholas get into the Second Wave of Feminism from the era. She speaks of how the characters are caught in the transition from the old to the new as they enter college and adulthood.

The Intimations of Sarah (16:19) lets critic Samantha McLaren get into elements of TV movies from that time. She talks about TV executives needed to lure people back to their living rooms since they were going out and watching R-rated movies at that time. She points out how Carrie had aired on network TV in 1978. She points out a few elements that hint at Sarah and Carrie being related. There’s a fine explanation of hedge mazes.

The Initiation of Tom (8:58) catches up with screenwriter Tom Holland (he received a “Story by” credit). Holland would write and direct Fright Night. He learned about acting originally. He was in the Northwestern University’s theater group. He ended up signing a 7-year contract with Warner Brothers. This is how he got into the desire to direct, but he couldn’t get behind the camera until he started getting success as a screenwriter. This was his first project to get produced. His original script for Sarah had the evil sorority punished a different way. He points out how Morgan Fairchild’s wet shirt got a lot of outrage and publicity when it ran. He’s happy Sarah is out in Blu-ray.

Image Gallery has a few promo photos and the original ad from TV Guide.

Arrow Video presents The Initiation of Sarah. Directed by Robert Day. Screenplay by Don Ingalls, Carol Saraceno & Kenette Gfeller. Starring Kay Lenz, Shelley Winters, Tony Bill, Morgan Fairchild, Morgan Brittany, Robert Hays, Tisa Farrow, Talia Balsam & Michael Talbott. Running Time: 97 minutes. Rated: Unrated. Release Date: June 21, 2022.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.