Sorority Row

Wannabe edgy slasher “remake” with distasteful characters and shaky cam

During a sorority party in the Pittsburgh area a student accidently dies. Those involved in the prank-gone-wrong make a pact to cover it up, but during graduation eight months later members of the agreement start showing up dead and it becomes clear that the killer knows their macabre secret.

“Sorority Row” (2009) has the same plot as “The House on Sorority Row” (1982), but the story & characters are totally different. I heard good things about this slasher, but was disappointed. Don’t expect the worthwhile ‘remakes’ of “My Bloody Valentine” (2009), “Black Christmas” (2006), “The Fog” (2005), “Fright Night” (2011), “House of Wax” (2005) or “Friday the 13th” (2009).

What’s wrong with “Sorority Row”? There’s too much faddish shaky cam, which gets annoying; and the outdoor colors are faded, which is also annoying. The cast of females is decent, with Rumer Willis (Ellie), Briana Evigan (Cassidy) and Caroline D'Amore (Maggie) standing out (Audrina Patridge’s role is too small to note), but the wannabe edgy tone makes it hard to warm up to any of them. It doesn’t help that the directors don’t know how to photograph women.

In addition, the ending “reveal” is unconvincing and unsatisfying. There are other eye-rolling problems, like why Maggie would stand in front of car and risk death for no ostensible reason.

The movie runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot in the Pittsburgh area as follows: Homestead, Crafton (interiors), Washington (aerial views) and Soldiers and Sailors Museum and Memorial (graduation scenes).

GRADE: C-