The Initiation of Sarah (1978) (Arrow Video)

[MifuneFan]

Arrow will be releasing the TV horror The Initiation of Sarah (1978) on June 21st.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

– Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative by Arrow Films

– High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation

– Original lossless mono audio

– Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

– Brand new audio commentary by TV Movie expert Amanda Reyes

– Welcome to Hell Week: A Pledge’s Guide to the Initiation of Sarah, a brand new appreciation by film critic Stacie Ponder and Queer Horror programmer Anthony Hudson, co-hosts of the Gaylords of Darkness podcast, celebrating the film through a queer feminist lens

– Cracks in the Sisterhood: Second Wave Feminism and The Initiation of Sarah, a brand new visual essay by film critic and historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

– The Intimations of Sarah, a brand new interview with film critic Samantha McLaren looking at witchcraft, empowerment, TV movies, and telekinetic shy girls post Carrie

– The Initiation of Tom, a brand new interview with Tom Holland on this his first film writing credit

– Image gallery

– Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Luke Insect

WELCOME TO HELL WEEK!

Satantic secrets and telekenetic terror combine in this classic made-for-TV horror movie directed by Hammer Films alumnus Robert Day (She), from a story co-written by Tom Holland (Fright Night), featuring cinematography by Ric Waite (48 Hrs).

Shy misfit Sarah Goodwin (Kay Lenz, House), has a secret gift: the ability to control — and destroy — with her mind. When Sarah goes off to college with her more outgoing and popular sister, Patty (Morgan Brittany, Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat), their plans to join the most prestigious sorority on campus are scuttled by snobby president, Jennifer Lawrence (Morgan Fairchild, Phantom of the Mall). Separated from her sister, Sarah is taken in by a rival, less popular sorority, whose mysterious house mother, Mrs. Hunter (Shelley Winters, The Night of the Hunter), is harboring a secret of her own: a scheme to harness Sarah’s terrifying power for revenge. Betrayed by Patty, humiliated by Jennifer, it can only be a matter of time before Sorority Hell Week erupts in flame!

Making its Blu-Ray debut with an all-new restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative, The Initiation of Sarah has never looked better and comes packed with all new bonus materials.

[MifuneFan]

Reverse art:

[Member-222782]

Not counting Dekalog, this would be Arrow's first foray into TV movie territory AFAIK. I clearly remember Cliff Mac replying to someone who asked about further TV movie releases with a resounding "No" because of poor sales (citing their "TV Terrors" set featuring IoS and Are You In the House Alone?). No one knows if Arrow is taking a chance or if TV movies have risen in popularity since then but this is a good development - there a lots of very good TV movies out there. I actually don't know if I still have my copy of that TV Terrors set but I may still grab this if I do have it.

Love that reverse art. Reminds me of a TV Guide listing.

[iamnoone]

The reverse art was the old US VHS cover.

initiationsarah.jpg

[patrick23]

Surprised they didn't get interviews with Kay Lenz, Morgan Fairchild or Morgan Brittany.
I've gotten all of them to sign my DVD at conventions and all had nice memories of it.

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by patrick23

Surprised they didn't get interviews with Kay Lenz, Morgan Fairchild or Morgan Brittany.
I've gotten all of them to sign my DVD at conventions and all had nice memories of it.

I would have preferred extras with them instead of all the extras featuring people who weren't involved in the making of the TV movie.

[whiteberry]

https://twitter.com/RetroNewsNow/sta...75178938245121


https://twitter.com/ChicagoTVGuides/...89829976145922

[whiteberry]

Scream Factory DVD:

[whiteberry]

ABC promo from 1978:

ABC promo Initiation of Sarah & Six Million Dollar Man 1978 - YouTube

Clips from Scream Factory:

The Initiation Of Sarah - SNEAK PEEK 1 - TV Terrors - YouTube

The Initiation Of Sarah - SNEAK PEEK 2 - TV Terrors - YouTube

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by iamnoone

The reverse art was the old US VHS cover.

A larger image of the first VHS release:


The second VHS release:

[Nosferatu31]

Looks to be a safe blind buy if you're a fan of Carrie.

[Cujo]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

I would have preferred extras with them instead of all the extras featuring people who weren't involved in the making of the TV movie.

Couldn't agree more. Those extras sound ridiculous. Kay Lenz was interviewed for Stripped to Kill, but Arrow couldn't get her? Still, I'm thrilled to finally be getting this on disc. It was actually one of my earliest title suggestions to Arrow way back.

[TominMN]

Originally Posted by Cujo

Couldn't agree more. Those extras sound ridiculous. Kay Lenz was interviewed for Stripped to Kill, but Arrow couldn't get her? Still, I'm thrilled to finally be getting this on disc. It was actually one of my earliest title suggestions to Arrow way back.

And Morgan Fairchild was interviewed for The Seduction by Scream Factory. It would be interesting to hear their recollections, especially of working with Shelley Winters. Maybe the budget just didn't allow it on this release. I remember watching and enjoying this on TV when first broadcast, so I also look forward to it, especially with the 2K restoration. I thought Kay was a beauty and so cool when I first saw her on Rich Man, Poor Man--hard to picture her as such an outcast, but she played it very well. And Morgan nails the mean girl role

[emmet otter]

Cant wait for this release!!! It'd be good to get rid of that cruddy dvd.

[silverlakephil]

The TV movie genre hasn’t been mined to its fullest extent IMO. There’s a few I’ve seen in the past or vaguely remember. Films like Crowhaven Farm, Gargoyles, & The Stranger Within, which I hope would get a Blu-ray some day. The commentator on this film, Amanda Reyes, has a book on this genre called Are You in This House Alone? which I highly recommend.

[Scoot79]

Kay Lenz was really beautiful around that time. I always remember her from House (1986).

[jjhunsecker]

I believe this is one of Talia Balsam's early works

[Savage_Blu]

Kay Lenz??
70's supernatural TV Movie?

I'm all in!

[Savage_Blu]

Originally Posted by Scoot79

Kay Lenz was really beautiful around that time. I always remember her from House (1986).

[Show spoiler]

...and Stripped to Kill!

[emmet otter]

and The Passage (1979) damn good movie!