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Initiation

Play trailer 1:32 Poster for Initiation R 2021 1h 37m Horror Mystery & Thriller Crime Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
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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Initiation

Initiation

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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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Critics Reviews

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Cath Clarke Guardian 05/18/2021
2/5
The kills get boring very quickly; I've seen cheese-grater injuries that were more grisly. Go to Full Review
Christy Lemire FilmWeek (LAist) 05/13/2021
No horror movie ever gets the fraternity-sorority scene right, but this one is trying to be thoughtful, at least. Go to Full Review
Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) 05/13/2021
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. Go to Full Review
Trevor Johnston Radio Times 07/22/2024
2/5
The climactic showdown and final twist are ably achieved, but by that time our interest has waned significantly. Go to Full Review
Dallas King Flick Feast 11/12/2022
2/5
It may pledge to be “Gen Z’s answer to Scream” but Initiation doesn’t quite make the grade. Go to Full Review
Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast 03/09/2022
4/5
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Helen M @HelenManteo 3d Initiation is one of those rare modern slashers that manages to be both entertaining and genuinely relevant. Set against the backdrop of a college campus reeling from a social media-fueled scandal, the film uses its mystery and body count to explore consent, online harassment, and the consequences of toxic behavior without ever losing sight of the suspense. The ensemble cast is strong, the kills are effective, and the whodunit structure keeps the tension high right up to the finale. It isn't perfect, but it's far smarter and more ambitious than most films in its subgenre. See more Gononan B. @biggononanotthelilone 4d It was boring a little bit but I like the ending See more Maggie S @Msparks 4d Initiation takes the familiar college slasher formula and gives it a surprisingly grounded modern update by weaving in themes of social media harassment, campus assault culture, and institutional coverups without losing sight of its genre roots. The film starts as a tense mystery before gradually evolving into a bloody revenge thriller, and while the pacing occasionally slows under the weight of its themes, the atmosphere and performances keep it engaging throughout. What makes the movie stand out is its attempt to treat its subject matter with more seriousness than the average teen slasher, even when it leans into classic masked-killer territory. Stylish, topical, and more thoughtful than expected, it’s an underrated horror film that deserved more attention. See more Daniel B @DanielBR Sep 22 Si “Initiation” hubiese sido una serie, hubiera sido fabulosa, ya que esta película daba para sembrar un thriller que se cocinara a fuego lento. Pero al durar poco más de hora y media, muchos de los conflictos internos de los protagonistas quedan en segundo plano, es más, la película avanza de forma tan veloz que no te da siquiera tiempo de intentar adivinar quién es el asesino porque apenas conocemos a los personajes. El primer acto es aburridísimo, prácticamente en los primeros 20 minutos de la historia no pasa nada, pero una vez que empieza el segundo acto, la película se vuelve realmente interesante. El asesinato de Wes es hermoso, ya que la película no nos prepara para él, llega totalmente repentino, es violento, y sorprende que uno de los personajes que creeríamos que sería protagónico muriera tan de pronto. El cómo repercute en el círculo de este es fabuloso, cada diálogo y las actuaciones de todos en ese punto son increíbles, y hace que genuinamente nos interese qué va a pasar a continuación. Esos 15 minutos son increíbles, pero una vez que llega el segundo y los posteriores asesinatos, la película en algunos puntos pareciera que raya en la parodia, y tira todo lo bueno que había construido para ser la típica película de terror protagonizada por adolescentes, donde el "terror" es más acción que otra cosa. Lo mejor que tiene esta película es la crítica a la adicción que esta generación tenemos a las redes sociales y a excesivamente compartir cada cosa que hacemos. Prácticamente todo el diálogo expositivo está a través de los mensajes de texto, y me pareció un uso narrativo fabuloso. Esta película critica de forma tajante todos los vicios sociales que actualmente tenemos, y está representado de gran forma. Pero para llegar a ser efectivo, sin duda le faltó tiempo a la historia. Esta película pudo ser increíble, pero su ritmo tan inconstante le terminó jugando en contra. See more Lisa D @RT49375483 01/13/2025 Ya'll have all heard of 911 right? See more Daniel N @Daniel1 04/11/2023 Not your typical slasher, even offering some depth one may say and with a good eye for the use of modern technology. See more Read all reviews
Initiation

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Movie Info

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
Jon Huertas, Stephanie Stanziano, John Berardo, J.P. Castel, Lindsay LaVanchy, Brian Frager, Shivam Malhotra
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)