Initiation

R

Released May 7, 2021

1h 37m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

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List

59%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

During a university's pledge week, the carefree partying turns deadly serious when a star athlete is found impaled in his dorm. The murder ignites a spree of sinister social-media messages, sweeping the students and police into a race against time to uncover the truth behind the school's dark secrets... and the horrifying meaning of a recurring symbol: a single exclamation mark.

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Premiered Nov 07

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Critics Consensus

Although Initiation struggles to balance its gorier goals against the story's social commentary, that added maturity makes this slasher a slight cut above.

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Daniel N

Not your typical slasher, even offering some depth one may say and with a good eye for the use of modern technology.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/23

Full Review

brad p

Initiation has some of the ingredients of a great slasher but sadly does not realize its full potential.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Overall, I quite enjoyed this film. Instead of being just another slasher, the film successfully introduces new elements such as technology. It introduces multiple mysteries that I found to be rather unpredictable, and the reveals felt satisfying. It certainly takes a little while to get going, but I was invested once several mysteries were outlined. The ending is also pleasing, but I can't deny that it felt somewhat abrupt and rushed. Either way, I still would class this film as a hidden gem and it comes recommended to lovers of slashers such as Scream.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/11/23

Full Review

toby h

Initiation is more than your regular slasher flick, throwing various important modern day themes in between murders. It's worth your time and stands out in a crowd. A woke horror hit.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

É um filme que ninguém dá nada no inicio, muitas cenas que mostram usos de álcool e drogas por parte dos personagens principais...mais tarde o telespectador entende porque. O filme trás a tona elementos de reflexão sobre brincadeiras de bullying contra todas as pessoas, pois todo mundo mora em república, no caso os personagens principais estudam numa universidade e moram em casas que dão acesso a vários quartos internamente que são apartamentos compartilhados...Do nada começa uma matança, o filme foca numa cena inicial onde uma menina está desmaiada dentro de um quarto com dois garotos, isso é que gira a história do filme. São muitos personagens que podem ser culpados por essa matança, o que mais gostei é que o culpado não estava na minha lista de suspeitos, não é obvio, nem cheguei a suspeitar dele em algum momento...então a reflexão deixada pelo filme é sobre as brincadeiras por internet, temos de tomar cuidado com isso porque pode acabar em tragédia e a segunda coisa é que as vezes quem deveria nos proteger é quem pode destruir nossas vidas. História original, suspense, mortes violentas, um filme atualizado com elementos de terror e suspense!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

surprise discovery with no surprise

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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John Berardo

Director

Jon Huertas

Officer Rico Martinez

Isabella Gomez

Kylie

Lindsay LaVanchy

Ellery Scott

Froy Gutierrez

Wes Scott

Gattlin Griffith

Beau Vaughn

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Initiation: Exclusive Trailer 1

1:32

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

The kills get boring very quickly; I've seen cheese-grater injuries that were more grisly.

Rated: 2/5

May 18, 2021

Full Review

Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

No horror movie ever gets the fraternity-sorority scene right, but this one is trying to be thoughtful, at least.

May 13, 2021

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

This is better than an average hack-and-slash, thinking about more than just blood and gore -- although there is plenty of blood and gore.

May 13, 2021

Full Review

Dallas King

Flick Feast

It may pledge to be “Gen Z’s answer to Scream” but Initiation doesn’t quite make the grade.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 12, 2022

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A thoughtful and welcome consideration of grief masquerading as a slasher (albeit still a good one), Initiation is a stunning showcase for co-writer and lead actress Lindsay LaVanchy.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 9, 2022

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

An inspired and effective semi-slasher that doubles as a mostly effective critique of rape culture. Co-writer and lead actress LaVanchy is one to watch.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 4, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

During a university's pledge week, the carefree partying turns deadly serious when a star athlete is found impaled in his dorm. The murder ignites a spree of sinister social-media messages, sweeping the students and police into a race against time to uncover the truth behind the school's dark secrets... and the horrifying meaning of a recurring symbol: a single exclamation mark.

Director: John Berardo
Producer: En Ming Lai, Michelle Ishii, Nicholas Chen, Olivia Kong
Screenwriter: John Berardo, Brian Frager, Lindsay LaVanchy
Distributor: Saban Films
Production Co: Shatterproof Films
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2021
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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