Sorority House Massacre 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Sorority House Massacre 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 20, 2025

Roger Corman never turned down a chance to cash in on a profitable moviemaking opportunity, but he took a bit of time to recognize the potential of his “Massacre” series of slasher films. What began in 1982’s “The Slumber Party Massacre” didn’t really continue until 1987’s “The Slumber Party Massacre II,” and a real exploration of the brand name emerged in 1986, when “Sorority House Massacre” attempted to capture audience attention with its usual formula of a madman on the loose, stalking young victims. Corman isn’t coloring outside the lines with these endeavors, but there’s something interesting in the employment of female directors to handle exploitative genre events, finding Carol Frank taking command of “Sorority House Massacre,” tasked with expanding personality and orchestrating violence on a tiny budget. Frank has some artful ways, but she’s missing a great deal of suspense in this especially poky picture.

Beth (Angela O’Neill) is returning to college after a stay in the hospital, reuniting with her sorority sisters, including Tracy (Nicole Rio), Linda (Wendy Martel), and Sara (Pamela Ross). Haunted by terrible dreams she can’t decipher, Beth maintains visions of murder and family coming for her, struggling to process these intense feelings. As the sorority house mostly clears out for Memorial Day weekend, the women are planning to celebrate with their boyfriends, leaving Beth to manage the merriment of it all as she slides deeper into despair. Across town, a young man (John C. Russell) held inside the Peligro Valley State Mental Hospital is growing enraged, managing to escape medical professionals, arm himself with a knife, and return to his childhood home, which carries a horrible history.

Beth is haunted by memories she doesn’t understand. She’s endured trauma, but can’t recall the details, attempting to maintain normality as she returns to school, reconnecting with her college experience. Her aunt has passed away, leaving her emotionally vulnerable, and her dreams are packed with detail, gifting Frank a chance to pad “Sorority House Massacre” with lengthy scenes of sleep tourism, where Beth encounters abstract visuals she’s out to decode. The helmer gets some mileage out of surreal imagery, scoring a few neat shots as she attempts to add a layer of the unreal to the offering. There’s violence brewing with the shadowy man in the mental hospital, who’s introduced as the primary threat in the story, though little is understood about the killer until the last act of the feature. He’s meant to add some pressure to “Sorority House Massacre,” but Frank takes her time developing his murderous rage, which plays like a lift from “Halloween,” only this Michael Myers physically resembles a high school bully hogging the “Galaga” machine at the local arcade.

“Sorority House Massacre” is a waiting game, only there’s very little payoff for those expecting a more furious experience in terror. Frank clearly has no budget to support her vision, so she fills the picture with banal dialogue and bland characters, taking an exceptionally long time to get anywhere in the film. With titles and credits, the feature is only 68 minutes long, and most of that is focused on interplay among the women, who spend time playing dress-up, bantering about guys, and confronting Beth’s troubled mind through Freudian dream analysis and hypnosis. Some goofball guys eventually join the story, but it takes Frank 45 minutes to launch any suspense, and such cinematic pressure never actually arrives. Expectations for horror aren’t met with this extremely talky effort, and one that doesn’t have much imagination for grisly encounters.

Sorority House Massacre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Sorority House Massacre" arrives on UHD via Shout Factory, listed as a "new 4K scan from the original camera negative." The Dolby Vision presentation offers pleasing color throughout the viewing experience, working especially well with the fashion choices of the movie, which deliver bright primaries and distinct period style. House interiors supply a warmer view of living spaces, and moodier blue lighting in the final act of the endeavor registers as intended. Greenery is vivid, along with house hues. Skin tones are natural. Detail reaches about as far as possible with the low-budget offering, maintaining a feel for skin particulars and fibrous outfits. Interiors maintain dimension. Blacks are deep, securing evening activities. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is retained, but maintains a slightly frozen appearance at times. Source is in good condition.

Sorority House Massacre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a straightforward listening experience for "Sorority House Massacre," maintaining mostly clear dialogue exchanges. Technical limitations are noted, and brief damage is encountered. Scoring sustains a sharp synth sound, supporting suspense beats. Sound effects are appreciable.

Sorority House Massacre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "A Nightmare on Sorority Row" (17:51, HD) is an audio interview with actress Angela O'Neill, who tracks the development of her interest in acting, trying her luck in college, finding her way into an audition for "Sorority House Massacre" after joining her friend for support. New to "the process," O'Neill actually read her contract for the gig, immediately resisting demands for nudity, which resulted in the hiring of a body double and a pay cut. The interviewee discusses her approach to the performance, learning on the job, and she details shooting locations. Appreciation for director Carol Frank is offered, examining her presence on the set and her professionalism with the cast. O'Neill also supplies memories from the shoot, focusing on physical challenges.

• "A Slash Course in Terror" (17:35, HD) is an appreciation piece from film historian Amanda Reyes.

• "The Final Girl: A Guide to Surviving Slasher Films" (19:52, HD) examines the ways of the subgenre with authors Richard Howell and Amanda Reyes.

• Extended UK VHS Cut (89:52, SD) is included.

• "Sorority Pledge" (2:29, SD) is an interview with executive producer Roger Corman, who provides a few thoughts on the production of "Sorority House Massacre," which was made solely to cash in on the success of "Slumber Party Massacre." The interviewee explores the "Massacre" franchise and its dwindling profit potential.

• "Sorority Sister" (21:28, HD) is an interview with actor Nicole Rio, who picked up the job on "Sorority House Massacre" when another actress left the gig. The interviewee reflects on her time with producer Roger Corman and director Carol Frank, who pushed to have a more feminist take on the slasher subgenre. Co-stars are assessed, sharing happy memories about her fellow actors, getting along with the crew as they plowed through production. Technical challenges and fashion choices are recalled, also noting the slightly eerie mood of the set. Rio shares an amusing story from the film's premiere, and covers a few other career highlights, including "The Zero Boys" and a missed opportunity to star in "Pumpkinhead."

• "Sorority Brother" (17:53, HD) is an interview with actor Vinnie Bilancio, who moved from Texas to Los Angeles to try his luck in acting, scoring a role in "Sorority House Massacre." The interviewee shares some thoughts on his co-stars, noting his use of social media to reconnect with old colleagues. Acting is still in his blood, working in local theater and making his own movies to stay connected to his chosen profession. Other career highlights are recalled, including "The Alarmist," "Werewolf in a Women's Prison," and "Hell's Highway."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:37, HD) is included.

Sorority House Massacre 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Sorority House Massacre" eventually launches something resembling slasher entertainment late in the movie, watching the women try to outrun and outsmart the man hunting them. Character connections are clarified and blood flows. It should be fun, yet the film is missing a more alert sense of danger, and stiff performances fail to bring much charisma to the screen. The whole thing feels undercooked and poorly managed. Even with the usual in genre permissiveness in play, "Sorority House Massacre" falls short of a nail-biting good time.