Rush Week Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Rush Week Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 26, 2021

The worlds of “Animal House” and slasher cinema collide in 1989’s “Rush Week,” which hopes to throw a big screen party while still tending to the slaughter of young characters. Screenwriters Russell V. Manzatt and Michael W. Leighton aren’t invested in originality, dealing with sameness of suspects and a killer on the loose, but they have enthusiasm for genre filmmaking, creating a collection of odd personalities and professional drives, while Bralver (a longtime stunt man who worked on “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” “Road House,” and “Battlestar Galactica”) tries to make his feature-length directing debut something different, investing in as much style and physical activity as the limited budget allows. There’s some genuine moviemaking hustle going on in “Rush Week,” which isn’t the norm for this type of entertainment, giving it a little extra emphasis while it manages horror formula.

At a Los Angeles-area college campus, the frat Beta Delta Beta has returned to power after being kicked off the property for a year. House president Jeff (Dean Hamilton) is determined to restore order, overseeing a brand-new rush week, which culminates in a massive “Fright Night” costume party. Student journalist Toni (Pamela Ludwig) is assigned to cover BDB’s return to the scene, but her instincts compel her to investigate the disappearance of Julie (Kathleen Kinmont), a student/fetish model who hasn’t been seen in days. Following the clues, Toni is eager to shape an important story about violence on campus, which upsets Dean Grail (Roy Thinnes), and she finds an admirer in Jeff, who’s losing interest in the demands of frat house life, dealing with personal issues Toni tries to examine.

“Rush Week” begins with a party, observing the rapscallions populating the BDB house, with the goons living to make others uncomfortable. This involves a series of pranks, with most involving the use of cadavers stolen from a nearby science building. The writing getting a lot of use out of the recently deceased, as Julie’s subplot involves her participation in fetish modeling with dead dudes, creating a major mystery of intent on both sides of the camera for Toni to solve. However, before violence enters the feature, frat house fun is detailed, with plenty of screen time reserved for band performances, dancing, and mischievous behavior that involves humiliating a local prostitute, classroom anarchy, and battling a rival house run by rich kids.

Murder soon arrives in “Rush Week,” but the screenplay doesn’t pursue a steady stream of gory encounters. It’s more of a detective story, with Toni trying to get to the bottom of Julie’s disappearance, which is tied to other personal losses on campus. Dean Grail shoos away such concern, and the rest of the staff doesn’t care (for some reason, Gregg Allman appears as a faculty advisor), leaving Toni to rely on friends (including Courtney Gebhart) to help with her investigation, which increases in urgency when more dead bodies are discovered. The writing offers clues to follow, including marked money, and red herrings are plentiful. Is the killer Morbid Mort the janitor who enjoys looking up student skirts? Arnold the chief cook who moonlights as a photographer? Or Jeff, an emotionally wounded man getting close to Toni? There’s a decent whodunit here that enjoys the technology of the time period (early computer communication is highlighted) and the confusion of the crime, putting Toni in a dangerous position as she gets close to potentially unstable suspects.

Rush Week Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as "Newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm interpositive," Vinegar Syndrome offers new life to "Rush Week," which was previously offered on lackluster DVD and VHS releases. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation reaches as far as possible with detail, offering appreciable skin surfaces throughout the viewing experience. Costuming has sweater and cottony textures, and housing interiors are filled with decorative additions, offering plenty to study with decent clarity. Campus tours are dimensional. Colors are terrific, preserving the movie's use of extreme lighting to add style, delivering bold primaries and hotter period hues. Skintones are natural. Delineation preserves frame information. Source is in excellent condition.

Rush Week Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA provides a wider listening event with distinct dialogue exchanges, capturing performance choices and excitable reactions during scenes of suspense. Scoring cues support with authority, and soundtrack selections offer a heavier beat and louder presence. Sound effects are sharply detailed, along with group bustle.

Rush Week Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features The Hysteria Continues.

• "Still Dean Hamilton" (12:58, HD) is an interview with the lead actor of "Rush Week," and he details his career journey at the time of production, working on soap operas and small movies before receiving the chance to audition for the horror film. Responding to the acting challenges found in the script, Hamilton recalls a pleasant working relationship with co-star Pamela Ludwig and director Bob Bralver, who was happy to help the actor understand the working parts of production. Dealing with a fast, T.V.-like shooting schedule in Los Angeles, the interviewee remembers the professionalism of the cast and crew, and he explains why Gregg Allman is in the feature. Hamilton seems happy with the cult legacy of "Rush Week" and its Blu-ray debut, tracking his move away from acting, becoming a producer and director. Hamilton is joined by his wife, reality television star Tania Mehra, in the final moments.

• "So 80's" (12:52, HD) is an interview with Courtney Gebhart, who excitedly recalls her entrance into acting, emerging as a USC graduate with plans to work on her craft. Delighted to get a job on "Rush Week," Gebhart details the importance of professionalism and her fondness for co-stars and director Bralver, exploring the camaraderie on-set as they labored through long hours in Los Angeles. As her part included time onstage as a singer, Gebhart shares her preparation for the moment, working on her rock star moves, also choosing to sing the pre-recorded song live when cameras rolled. The interviewee offers her first impressions of "Rush Week" and her delight with the movie's cult longevity, also marveling over period touches. Gebhart closes with her current position as a life coach, a gig she seems suited for, as she radiates charm and warmth during this conversation.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Rush Week Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Rush Week" doesn't have budgetary might, but Bralver and cinematographer Jeff Mart work to add some visual energy to the piece, bringing varied colors to murder sequences, giving the production some cinematic flavor. Performances are capable for this type of entertainment, delivering necessary points of intimidation and curiosity. And the resolution is satisfying, blending costume party activity with storytelling closure. "Rush Week" remains committed to the demands of the subgenre, presenting plenty of nudity and goofiness, which holds attention. Perhaps the film isn't a true nail-biter, but it accomplishes most of its creative goals, and it remains an approachable effort, with a lively atmosphere of celebration and survival to give it a special B-movie life.