The House on Sorority Row Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The House on Sorority Row Blu-ray Movie Review

1982’s “The House on Sorority Row” is the next title on Scorpion Releasing’s to-do list of updated scans, offering a new version of a title that was previously issued on Blu-ray in 2014. Unlike “Death Ship,” the feature remains the same, delivering the same slasher cinema highlights and B-movie silliness as before, only here there’s a refreshing of image and an updating of sound quality, giving the modest genre endeavor a more defined HD look.

The House on Sorority Row Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Making its Blu-ray debut in 2014, "The House on Sorority Row" returns to HD with a "Brand new scan of the original internegative," and with the refreshing comes a slightly sharper look at the low-budget chiller. Details are clearer and tighter on the new disc, with facial particulars displaying greater texture, picking up on character wear and tear and make-up achievements. Costuming also remains fibrous, and sorority house and party decoration is easier to survey. Colors are richer, finding celebratory lighting most dynamic, while primaries are communicative. Skintones are natural. Blood reds pop with enthusiasm. Delineation is strong, never losing footing with evening and shadow activity. Source remains slightly worn, with mild scratches and speckling. Judder is detected periodically, along with warping, showing most intensity around the 41:00 mark.

The House on Sorority Row Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The new default for "The House on Sorority Row" is a 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix, which is meant to boost the sonic reach of the horror film, but creates some awkward definition at times, especially with dialogue exchanges, finding looped dialogue noticeably sticking out, reinforcing artificiality. Also of concern is the party sequence, where a live band performs inside the house. On the 2.0 DTS-HD MA track, the band retains its rock authority. In 5.1, the scenes are considerably quieter, emphasizing performances over room atmosphere. Dialogue exchanges aren't a problem either way, capturing genre intensity and argumentative behavior without any significant disruptions. Scoring cues are clean and supportive, with strong instrumentation. A few pops are heard during the listening event. The 5.1 option is nice, and improves on the original BD mix in many ways, only lacking some oomph during live music.

The House on Sorority Row Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Mark Rosman and actresses Kate McNeil and Eileen Davidson, and the trio provides more of a casual recollection of creative highlights. Rosman leads the pack, sharing compelling BTS information concerning the low-budget shoot, pointing out tricks and tributes, while the actresses concentrate on professional relationships and on-set moods. Dead spots crop up from time to time, but the track delivers a satisfying understanding of production challenges.

• Commentary #2 features Rosman with host Katarina Leigh Waters, and while it basically repeats everything from the other track, the director seems a little more focused for this conversation, trying to entertain his partner with anecdotes. Waters seems overwhelmed by the interview challenge, but she manages to question Rosman about the 2009 remake.

• Isolated Music Score is included.

• "Katarina's Nightmare Theater" (3:16, SD) returns to host Katarina Leigh Waters, who shares IMDB trivia and actor filmographies for "The House on Sorority Row."

• Alternate Ending/Storyboard Comparisons (5:18, SD) collect a slew of images from the making of the movie, with Rosman popping up briefly to discuss a different ending for the effort. A few suspense sequences are dissected with before and after evaluations.

• Still Gallery (1:53) supplies publicity shots and BTS snaps.

• Interview (41:39, SD) with Harley Jane Kozak is perhaps the most enlightening of the supplementary features, with the former actress and now author offering tremendous candor when discussing her filmography. Safely outside the industry, Kozak is free to reflect on her career with honesty, and she walks through the ups and down of her time in Hollywood, sharing BTS tidbits from "Arachnophobia," "All I Want for Christmas" (which was extensively rewritten weeks before shooting to avoid a lawsuit), and "The Taking of Beverly Hills" (which, of course, was shot in Mexico with Styrofoam sets). Talk of "The House on Sorority Row" is cheery, representing Kozak's big break into acting, offering tales of creepy cast accommodations, life-threatening water stunts, and stolen clothing. She's just wonderful to listen to.

• Interview (14:24, SD) with Kate McNeil chats up the lead actress, covering the origins of her career, her time on the set, and her rather guarded feelings for the "Sorority Row" remake, sharing a more political answer about extremes of violence than an honest one. Interview (7:14, SD) with Eileen Davidson is less illuminating, working through the basics of her professional life and memories of on-set duties, emphasizing her alien appearance due to her L.A. origins, working with a group of NYC-trained talent.

• Interview (21:24, SD) with Mark Rosman explores his filmmaking aspirations and experience working with Brian De Palma on "Home Movies," which gave him the necessary training to attempt "The House on Sorority Row." Talk of financing, casting, and filming fill out the conversation.

• Interview (45:18, SD) with Richard Band is an extended sit-down with the composer, who shares his vision for this tiny horror picture and his efforts to use orchestral sounds to give it cinematic life. The chat walks through Band's other work in movies such as "Ghoulies" and "Zone Troopers."

• Interview (10:11, SD) with producer Igo Kantor is only moderately engaging, discussing the work that was put into the picture to help bring it to a successful release. More interesting is Kantor's blasé feelings on infidelity.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:57, SD) and Three T.V. Spots (1:33, SD) are included.

The House on Sorority Row Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While the new 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is lacking when it comes true rock power in a small room, "The House on Sorority Row" benefits from second pass at clarity, offering fans a richer, slightly sharper viewing experience while retaining supplementary material from the previous release, giving loyal BD fans a good reason to return this capable genre workout.