The 80s were a decade where horror films were suddenly moved to the forefront of film screens everywhere. Often seen as the red headed stepchild of film genres (no offense intended to red headed stepchildren) horror films were more often considered B movies or drive-in fodder. That all changed with the success of several films at the box office which resulted in a ton of movies looking for holidays and locations to be used for horror fueled plots. Everything from slumber parties to Christmas was used. So why not use college campuses. In 1982 two films went there. One was THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD. The other was THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW.
Seven sorority sisters are about to celebrate their graduation with a big party at the sorority house. They planned on this weekend since their house mother Mrs. Slater (Lois Kelso Hunt) is planning to be out of town. When she learns of their party she puts down her foot and refuses to allow them to have it.
One of the girls, Vicki (Eileen Davidson) already has it in for Mrs. Slater. When she snuck a boyfriend into her room Mrs. Slater slashed her waterbed. Now Vicki plans her revenge, encouraging the other to help her with a prank. They toss Slater’s cane into the unusable swimming pool and then force her at gunpoint to retrieve it. The prank goes wrong when Vicki shoots her by mistake. In an effort to hide what happened the girls all decide to hide the body in the pool until they can do something with it.
The party goes on but things begin to happen. We as viewers see a young man stabbed with the cane and murdered. When the girls see some of the guests wanting to use the pool they realize that the light will illuminate the body. One goes down to disable the breaker and is murdered. The pool lights come on and the girls are surprised that the body is no longer there.
As the movie progresses the usual tropes are used with the body count rising and the question of who is actually killing the students in question. Is it Mrs. Slater? Was she really dead? Is she back from the grave? And why did she always take a trip at this time of year? Could it be that the strange Dr. Beck has the answers the girls are seeking?
For a low budget feature the quality of this film is higher than most. The cinematography is well done and director Mark Rosman gets the best out of his cast. He later went on to a successful career with movies he directed for Disney including A CINDERELLA STORY. Davidson went on to become a featured player in the TV soaps THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. Harley Jane Kozak who is in the film went on to star in the soap SANTA BARBARA and later in the films PARENTHOOD and ARACHNAPHOBIA.
Made for under $500,000 the film grossed over $10 million at the box office. Since its release the film has developed a cult following and rightfully so. It is a classic of the slasher films from the 80s and has earned its place in the horror hall of fame. The movie was remade but like most remakes the newer film paled in comparison.
MVD is releasing the film as part of their MVD REWIND COLLECTION and as they always do they’ve done a fantastic job of it. Offered in high definition from the original internegative in 1.78:1 aspect ratio the film has never looked better. In addition to that they’ve included a number of well-done extras. Those include an audio commentary with director Mark Rosen and stars Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeil, interviews with cast and crew including: Director Mark Rosman, stars Harley Jane Kozak, Eileen Davidson and Kathryn McNeil, Composer Richard Band and Producer Igo Kantor, a storyboard on the original ending, theatrical trailers, reversible artwork with an alternative cover and a collectible mini-poster.
If you’re a horror fan, a fan of horror films from the 80s or one of the many followers of this film you’ll want to make a point of adding this one to your collection. It still hold up after all these years.
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