Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

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Watch this if you liked: “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, “Jawbreaker”, “Final Destination”

Let's not lament over the death of American cinema with each and every remake they throw at us - unless of course, you already have. What we have right here is a reupdate on 1983's sorority slasher "The House Of Sorority Row", the kind of show you just might be interested in it if you love the thriller that is "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and similar prank-gone-wrong plots such as Rose McGowan's "Jawbreaker" (1999) or Hillary Swank's "Dying to Belong" (1997).

Movies such as these do not flinch from the sight of gore and blood; and applause must be given to the effects people for such sadistic display of death. This reviewer especially adores the champagne-choking scene. The flick starts off with your usual exhibition of sorority culture (of what else but partying) but when it's time to get serious, the movie hits it with great effects.

Performance-wise, lead actress Brianna Evigan (last seen in "Step Up 2: The Streets") might sometimes get lost in all the screaming frenzy of the people around but somehow has her own charm in stealing the viewer's attention. She is successful of course, since there are lots of racks on display that can maim the male viewer's focus, if you catch my drift). You have the usual cliche of thriller characters - the scaredy-cat, the mean girl, the Asian, the drunken "(fill in the blanks)" and the useless men roles. There isn't much character development, so most of all the other performances are easily forgotten.

However, the twist is laughable, and it's not a great film to play guess-the-killer since you will be able to identify the perpetrator even before the person starts to kill. The scene with Mrs Crenshaw, the den-mother is quite over-the-top and ridiculous, not at all in tune with the whole commotion. However, it is still fun to watch for all its bloody presentation and you get to see some Audrina Patridge outside of "The Hills" and her other straight-to-DVD stuff.

Oh by the way, three times a charm, Rumer Willis, but if you keep on playing the geeky sorority girl, you'll end up being a typecast. Remember Molly Ringwald?


Cinema Online, 01 October 2009