Yet another film released during the American slasher craze of the early 1980s, THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW was produced independently and shot in Baltimore by first-time director Mark Rosman, a protégé of Brian DePalma. Somewhat stylish and less graphic than most of its type, the film was chosen for distribution by exploitation specialists Film Ventures International when they agreed to provide the backing necessary to put the finishing touches on the film. Previously available on DVD in 2000 (and again re-released in 2003) by Elite Entertainment, Liberation Entertainment has picked up the rights to the film for a January 2010 DVD release (with a “25th Anniversary Edition” labeling, even though that celebratory landmark has already come and gone) tied in with a 2009 remake (simply titled SORORITY ROW), which just saw a brief theatrical run.

Wanting to celebrate their recent graduation, seven sorority sisters – Katey (Kathryn McNeil), Vicki (Eileen Davidson), Liz (Janis Ward), Jeanie (Robin Meloy), Stevie (Ellen Dorsher), Diane (Harley Jane Kozak) and Morgan (Jodi Draigie) – plan to throw a big party before leaving their sorority house for good. When the humorless, nasty house mother Mrs. Slater (Lois Kelso Hunt) catches wind of this, she demands that all such party plans be interrupted and that the remaining sorority sisters leave at once. Enraged, Vicki spearheads a prank against Mrs. Slater involving a gun and the dilapidated, algae-permeated pool in the backyard, despite the reservations of “good girl” Katey. The prank is executed, and Mrs. Slater ends up dead, leaving the girls with the decision of what to do with the body. Agreeing to avoid the police at all costs, the girls hide Mrs. Slater’s corpse in the pool during the night of the big shindig, but the body disappears from its current resting place, and a number of grisly murders ensue during the course of the night; most of the victims being the ones responsible for Mrs. Slater’s demise.

From the stormy opening flashback (set in 1961) where a much younger Mrs. Slater is seen giving birth under the knife of the peculiar Dr. Beck (Christopher Lawrence), writer/director Rosman sets up a respectable amount of suspense throughout. The flashback also helps establish the killer’s identity, as child’s toys are found pretty much whenever someone is about to be offed. Especially creepy – and this plays instrumental during the film’s final moments – is imagery and objects involving a harlequin/clown. Although this is not nearly as gory as some of the other so-called shasher pics of the period, the killings are for the most part inventive (most of them done with a bird-shaped-handle walking stick), and the camera never lingers on too much during the bloody pay-offs (this could also be because some of the prosthetics aren’t up to par, some looking far too phony).

All in all, the story of seven college girls and the accidental death which threatens their own lives holds up well, so much so that someone decided it was a good idea to remake the film. Cinematography (with some effecting lighting schemes) and editing are done quite competently, especially given the fact that this was shot quickly on location and on a minuscule budget. The performances of the mostly young cast (especially McNeil and Davidson, who would both go on to have prominent careers on television) are pulled off nicely and the music by Richard Band (FROM BEYOND) compliments the film with an air of class. What mildly tarnishes the film (though it is sort of amusing in a way) is the re-dubbing of Mrs. Slater (Rosman didn’t like the soft tone of the actress’s actual voice) and surely what dates it is the appearance of “power-pop” quartet 4 Out of 5 Doctors, with their poor man’s Rick Springfield-type tunes performed during the party scene. For those who like their 1980s slashers films with extra doses of nudity, HOUSE will disappoint, but Davidson does have a good (albeit brief) topless scene before her and her partner’s waterbed is destroyed.

Not having the old Elite Entertainment DVD at hand to compare with it, Liberation Entertainment is now issuing this new re-release a full decade later. According to their press release, their DVD carries a “high quality transfer from a recently discovered pristine 35mm print.” Whatever the case, HOUSE looks terrific here, presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with anamorphic enhancement. The image appears sharp and finely detailed, with colors being well saturated and skintones looking especially natural. If their are any blemishes on the source print, they're only witnessed briefly. Two audio options are offered; an English mono track, as well as Dolby Digital 5.1 track, and both sound excellent.