The House on Sorority Row (1982)

After a seemingly innocent prank goes horribly wrong, a group of sorority sisters are stalked and murdered one by one in their sorority house while throwing a party to celebrate their graduation.

Director:

Mark Rosman

Writers:

Mark Rosman, Bobby Fine (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Kate McNeil, Eileen Davidson, Janis Ward

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate McNeil	...	Katherine (as Kathryn McNeil)
Eileen Davidson	...	Vicki
Janis Ward	...	Liz (as Janis Zido)
Robin Meloy	...	Jeanie
Harley Jane Kozak	...	Diane (as Harley Kozak)
Jodi Draigie	...	Morgan
Ellen Dorsher	...	Stevie
Lois Kelso Hunt	...	Mrs. Slater
Christopher Lawrence	...	Dr. Beck
Michael Kuhn	...	Peter
Michael Sergio	...	Rick
Ruth Walsh	...	Mother
Ed Heath	...	Policeman
Jean Schertler	...	Nurse
Larry Singer	...	Photographer

Storyline

A group of girls staying at a sorority house clash with the house's owner, who wants them out. They decide to play a prank on her, but it goes awry and she winds up dead. Panicking, the girls try to hide the body, but someone (or something) witnessed the crime and begins to stalk them.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | serial killer | sorority | interrupted sex | cult film | 

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Taglines:

Seven graduates of sorority sisters stalked as they hold a guilty secret

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie is similar to the 1930s Myrna Loy classic Thirteen Women, which was considered by some to be the very first slasher movie, about a woman who is rejected from a sorority, and then gets revenge by causing the murders of all its members.

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Goofs

Kathryn goes into the third bathroom stall to hide. The locking knob is shown being unlocked from the outside. There is no outside lock on stall doors.

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Quotes

Pig: I'm a sea pig...

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Crazy Credits

The mechanical tick of Eric's jack-in-the-box plays on as the ending credits role.

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Alternate Versions

The UK video version (retitled "House of Evil") omits a short scene after the attack on Jeanie, in which Katherine goes to look for Peter and finds him standing by the piano. It also shows shots of children's toys at the end of the film, whereas the US version ends immediately after the killer's eyes open.

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Connections

Referenced in Scream 2 (1997)

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Soundtracks

Mr. Cool Shoes
Composed and Performed by 4 Out of 5 Doctors
4 Out of 5 Doctors appear courtesy of Nemperor Records, Inc. and CBS Inc.

User Reviews

One of the better sorority slashers

House on Sorority Row is not just some of the some ol', same ol' as we've seen before with sorority slasher movies.

The movie is based on a group of seven sorority sisters who are all just about to graduate college and they come up with the idea of throwing an illicit party at the sorority house. If the girls just could have gotten the blessing from their sorority mother, who is Mrs. Slater, this party would have worked out. Instead, Mrs. Slater won't allow any such party under her roof. Mrs. Slater wants the house to be vacant during that weekend- and you'll find out why later.

The girls decide to rebel against Mrs. Slater's wishes, particularly Vikki, who is played by Eileen Davidson. By doing so they all participate in a prank targeting Mrs. Slater. However, this prank takes a turn for the worst. Soon thereafter, these college babes come up missing. It then turns into a tale of whodunit. Solid direction, which is done with such finesse by Mark Rosman.

I liked the idea of the killer in this one, who uses a sharp cane for the weapon of choice. Some memorable death scenes are a decapitated head found in a toilet bowl and various stabbings with that cane that I had just mentioned.

There are plenty of genre flicks that deal with this same topic. Those that I am referring to are: PROM NIGHT, SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE, SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE and THE INITIATION. The House On Sorority Row isn't anything groudbreaking, but it does still satisfy us bloodhounds out there. The script is original, the suspense scenes are built up with the proper tension and there is a satisfactory amount of blood; however there could of been more. In addition, I thought that the cast did a better then decent job on the acting duties.

The budget DVD is worth getting. The uncut version is now available for the first time in the U.S., which does include the extra cinema shots of Vikki getting stabbed to death. Previously, this was unattainable in the U.S.

I give it 7/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 1983 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

The House on Sorority Row

Filming Locations:

Eltonhead Mansion, 26 Hillchase Ct, Pikesville, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$425,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$617,661, 23 January 1983

Gross USA:

$10,604,986

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,604,986

Company Credits

Production Co:

VAE Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1