Initiation (2021) Review – A Failed Attempt at a Socially Conscious Slasher
Initiation: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A painfully dull slasher that manages to fail as both a traditional genre flick and a piece of social commentary. While John Berardo aims for a more mature approach to the campus killer trope, the result is a slow and derivative slog populated by unconvincing characters. The decision to cast actors who are clearly in their mid-thirties as university students is jarring and distracting, further undermining the film’s attempts at realism. With predictable kills and a nonsensical reveal, Initiation offers nothing new to the social media horror sub-genre. It is a 1.5 star disappointment that squanders its potential for meaningful discussion in favour of mediocre slasher beats. Despite decent cinematography, the film is hindered by poor writing and a lack of genuine tension.
Details: Director: John Berardo | Cast: Lindsay LaVanchy, Jon Huertas, Lochlyn Munro, Yancy Butler | Runtime: 1h 36m | Release Date: 2021
Best for: Die-hard slasher completists who don’t mind a very slow pace and those interested in how social media is visualised in modern horror.
Worth noting: The film is an expansion of the director’s 2013 short film Dembanger, which explored similar themes of social media and campus life.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, Apple TV, Vudu
Rating: 1.5/5 Stars
(A slow and unoriginal slasher that fails to handle its heavy social themes with any degree of nuance or effective horror.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. We have another social media themed horror movie for you today. We are taking a look at John Berardo’s slasher Initiation.
Highlights
A socially conscious…. slasher?
Initiation follows a group of university students who are being stalked by a killer hell-bent on ridding the university of jocks and frat bros. After a sexual assault takes place on campus and is shared on social media, a wave of brutal attacks kick off that it is down to the students themselves to solve.
“Berardo said he did not want to present his characters as tropes. This is a bizarre statement considering he almost completely fails at this task.”
Wanting to present itself as something of a more mature approach to the slasher genre, Initiation plays out in a slower manner than many similar movies. Choosing to build a plot that wants to be both traditional and socially conscious, Initiation reflects the social struggles that the youth of today face, both as a more connected group of people and as a terminally online generation. Interestingly, it fails at both this element and as a traditional slasher.
I can respect the hustle but it doesn’t feel authentic
Based on a short movie developed as a class project on the theme of social change, Berardo wanted to turn his short Dembanger into a feature length slasher. Aiming to capitalise on the popularity of films like Unfriended, Berardo said he didn’t want to present his characters as tropes. He disliked the standard slasher presentation of women and said that he wanted to change that with Initiation.
This is something of a bizarre statement considering he almost completely fails at this task. Our characters here are a bunch of generic “every slasher” victims. Women run away screaming in almost pathetic levels of ineptitude and male characters valiantly fight back only to be overcome by a killer that doesn’t play by the rules.
It really misses the mark when it comes to being a slasher with a difference. I really don’t feel like this is the genre to attempt to develop this idea, either. Slashers are supposed to be fun, mindless, killing. Do they really need morals and virtue? I don’t think so.
So many issues
This is a painfully boring horror flick. Decent cinematography hints at the potential for something worth watching. Despite this, the movie never manages to rise above painfully below average slasher. The social media element is hinted at.. And I mean hinted in the loosest sense of the word. But if you are thinking about watching this because you enjoy social media themed horror, you may want to give it a miss.
“Utilising real world social issues as minor plot devices, only to discard them when keeping them becomes inconvenient, Initiation always takes the easy way out.”
Once again, utilising genuine real world social issues as minor plot devices, only to discard them when keeping them as a central theme becomes inconvenient, Initiation always takes the easy way out when the story calls for nuance. The presentation of onscreen social media posts and messages may feel novel for some. For others who have played video games like Detroit: Become Human, it will feel overly familiar. Initiation has all been done before; it is tired and very worn out.
The slasher element plays out like every other middle of the road slasher you have ever seen. A character has a few moments alone and, in those moments, a masked figure appears with no explanation. The killer and the victim scuffle, the killer wins, rinse and repeat. It is so boringly familiar and hangs around far too long. Initiation does absolutely nothing new.
If the movie didn’t feature the half-baked inclusion of real world hot button topics, there would be virtually nothing to talk about. Berardo tries hard to subvert expectation with the killer reveal but it is fairly ridiculous. Despite how dumb it is, I actually predicted it. Something my fiancée laughed at me about at the time because my prediction sounded so damn stupid and nonsensical. Turns out I was right.
How old are some of these actors?
This movie can be unintentionally hilarious. Aside from the convoluted plot, AI-sounding text conversations between characters, and poorly done social media aspects, some of the acting is terrible. Many of the frat bros are pretty terrible and nobody really stands out. Mel Fair’s repeated, 1800’s ranch owner style, use of the phrase “bull shit” is frequently comical and often awful. Veteran actors Yancy Butler, who plays Detective Fitzgerald, and Lochlyn Munro are both okay. There is something about the actors that is rather glaring, however.
“This is one of the most egregious examples of older actors playing young people I have seen. James Berardo looks like he is in his mid 30s at least.”
Aren’t these fraternity brothers and sorority sisters supposed to be in their late teens and early 20s? Most of the actors here looked like they were in their late 20s. A few of them looked even older. This is one of the most egregious examples of older actors playing young people I have seen. Much of it is obvious nepotism at play; friends and family of the director have been placed into central roles.
Lindsay LaVanchy, who has producing and writing credits, thought it fine to take up the starring role of “hero sorority sister” Ellery. She looks like a woman in her mid 30s and feels wildly out of place running around a frat house in a bikini. Even worse than that is James Berardo. I am assuming this is director John Berardo’s brother or something?
He looks like is in his mid 30’s, at least. It’s so jarring seeing him sit among the other students at the party. He looks like he has sneaked in and the clothes they dressed him in are ridiculous. It’s extremely egregious.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Cinematography: The film is well-shot, featuring a polished look that suggests a higher quality of production than the script provides.
- Veteran Supporting Cast: Lochlyn Munro and Yancy Butler provide a steady and professional presence that keeps the procedural elements grounded.
The Bad
- Shallow Commentary: The film attempts to address hot-button social issues but uses them as mere window dressing for a generic plot.
- Boring Slasher Beats: The kills and chase sequences are derivative and lack the energy or creativity expected of the genre.
- Unnatural Dialogue: Much of the script feels robotic, particularly the text conversations which lack the flow of genuine digital communication.
The Ugly: The “Propeller Hat” Casting. Casting actors in their mid-thirties as university students is so egregious it leads to moments of unintentional comedy that ruin the film’s serious tone.
Should You Watch Initiation?
No. It is a 1.5 star film that fails to justify its runtime. While it tries to be a “socially conscious” slasher, it ends up being a dull and derivative slog with very little to offer fans of the genre. There are far better campus-based slashers and social media horrors available. Save your time for something with more bite.
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