The Initiation of Sarah (1978) Arrow Video Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Jason Lockard

In the 1970s horror films were raging popular. Popularized by adaptions of Stephen King films. One of those films was Sissy Spacek as Carrie. Just a short two years later TV companies were clamoring for TV Movies in 1978 came The Initiation of Sarah from a story co-written by the famed Tom Holland the director of the cult horror classic Fright Night.

Arrow Video continues to impress with releasing deluxe editions of films you would never dream would get a release and to be honest when I heard The Initiation of Sarah was getting a Blu-ray release I was shocked and pleasantly so to be honest!

Shy misfit Sarah Goodwin (Kay Lenz, House), has a secret gift: the ability to control ― and destroy ― with her mind. When Sarah goes off to college with her more outgoing and popular sister, Patty (Morgan Brittany, Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat), their plans to join the most prestigious sorority on campus are scuttled by snobby president, Jennifer Lawrence (Morgan Fairchild, Phantom of the Mall). Separated from her sister, Sarah is taken in by a rival, less popular sorority, whose mysterious house mother, Mrs. Hunter (Shelley Winters, The Night of the Hunter), is harboring a secret of her own: a scheme to harness Sarah’s terrifying power for revenge. Betrayed by Patty, humiliated by Jennifer, it can only be a matter of time before Sorority Hell Week erupts in flame!

This film is the epitome of slow burn horror, and I love it so much! Morgan Fairchild is deviously wicked and Shelley Winters is perfect! I have never seen her in a film that I disliked her in. Everyone's acting in this film is so believable. It's not forced it just flows, and you can't ask for more from actors than that. The direction Robert Day (She) is masterful to say the least.

In this day and age most audiences have a very short attention span and unless there is horror flying at the screen every 10 seconds they get bored with the film. The masters knew that the best way to experience terror was to slowly build the tension to the exhilarating crescendo. The Initiation of Sarah is a perfect example of this!

Arrow Video have restored this TV Movie in 2K from the original camera negative. It is presented in 1080p in it's original full screen format. The soundtrack is the original lossless mono audio. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. 

I can not put into words how impressed I was with this new restoration. The video quality is stunning. The colors are vibrant and there is no signs of damage to this print whatsoever. The audio is as clear as a bell with not hiss or pops. As good as this film looks on Blu-ray it's hard to believe this film was made 44 years ago.

Now Arrow Video is never satisfied with a bare bones restoration Blu-ray. So they offered a lot of nice bonus features on this Blu-ray to keep horror fans entertained. Take a look at what is included.

* Brand new audio commentary by TV Movie expert Amanda Reyes

* Welcome to Hell Week: A Pledge’s Guide to the Initiation of Sarah, a brand new appreciation by film critic Stacie Ponder and Queer Horror programmer Anthony Hudson, co-hosts of the Gaylords of Darkness podcast, celebrating the film through a queer feminist lens

* Cracks in the Sisterhood: Second Wave Feminism and The Initiation of Sarah, a brand new visual essay by film critic and historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

* The Intimations of Sarah, a brand new interview with film critic Samantha McLaren looking at witchcraft, empowerment, TV movies, and telekinetic shy girls post Carrie

* The Initiation of Tom, a brand new interview with Tom Holland on this his first film writing credit

* Image gallery

* Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Luke Insect

While The Initiation of Sarah may not be on the level of Carrie or many of the other Stephen King horror films. I found the film just as entertaining. And the new restoration brings this film new life for a new generation.

If you love made for TV horror movies as much as I do, you need the Blu-ray of The initiation of Sarah in your collection. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today.

Out of Four TV Sets (Four Being the Best) The Initiation of Sarah Blu-ray receives...