Summer is over so it’s time to move the hacking to bits to a nearby campus. It’s amazing how films like this have an endless market. The same film can be updated or retrofitted with the parts from previous entries in the slasher genre. Sorority Row was more original the first and second time I saw it: when it was called Black Christmas and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Regardless, there is something appealing about it.
Our sisters have a little personality. We have Cassidy (Briana Evigan), the one who tries to do right; the brainy Ellie (Rumer Willis); the bossy Jessica (Leah Pipes); the sexpot Claire (Jaime Chung); the quick witted Chugs (Margo Harshman); and the disposable Megan (Audrina Partridge). Why is Megan disposable? Because she dies early on due to a prank gone awry. This puts the plot into motion as someone is going about murdering the sisters of Theta Pi over their efforts to cover up the accident.
The story doesn’t scream “engaging”, “creative”, or even “interesting”—yet somehow it makes up for substance with style. Right out of the gate, an unusually lengthy, sweeping, steadicam shot establishes the setting and the characters. There are some crafty cuts at play, but the opening scene works wonders. Much of the film is expertly shot, but there were points were the camera shook more than needed. Regardless, this above par camerawork is one of the most effective techniques in establishing a film as more than just a cookie cutter byproduct.
With everything moving along at a good speed, it’s also nice to have some talented girls in the roles. Some of the performances outshine others. Evigan and Harshman are the most believable. Carrie Fisher is also great as the house mom with an attitude. Leah Pipes on the other hand seems out of place, as though she’s shooting for the laugh with every quip. Not that there is anything wrong with the occasion pop culture reference, but this character is overboard and Pipe’s delivery feels too evil-beauty-queen-on-stage. Then there are continuity problems. Seems that every kill moment has some underlying mistake. I don’t know how they could have overlooked a burning house that won’t go down. No smoke detector, no coughing, just some wood treated with Thompson’s® FireSeal®.
Sorority Row is predictable. You know who is going to die. You know some girls are going to defile themselves for the chance to be in a movie. People who see these movies appear to enjoy these qualities. If they didn’t they wouldn’t keep making money on the same old song and dance. It’s a fun package though and maybe delivering on what you expect isn’t a bad thing. If me saying that I’ve seen worse from this genre sounds like a recommendation to you, you are already on your way to the theatre. **
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