Watch Sorority Slaughterhouse

Sorority Slaughterhouse, released in 2016, is a horror movie that blends slasher film tropes with supernatural elements, nestled within the stereotypical setting of a college sorority house. Directed by David DeCoteau, the film features notable actors such as Eric Roberts, Jessica Morris, and Jean Louise O'Sullivan and offers a story that aims to provide chills and thrills to fans of the genre.

The film opens with its primary antagonist, known as a humorless and stringent college dean named Robert Englund, played by Eric Roberts. Englund finds himself in a particularly sour mood after a romantic debacle with one of the faculty members, which leads to a series of unfortunate events culminating in a curse that traps his soul within a doll. This supernatural occurrence sets the tone for the horror that will follow, as the movie pays homage to the trope of the possessed doll made popular by horror classics.

The cursed doll finds its way into the hands of a group of college sorority girls who are blissfully unaware of the dark presence they've just invited into their midst. The sorority house, known for its raucous parties and sisterly camaraderie, becomes an entirely different kind of battleground when the pint-sized villain begins to unleash chaos and terror.

Jessica Morris plays the role of one of the key sorority sisters, who along with her friends, are characterized as typical college students: They're preoccupied with their academic responsibilities, social lives, and romantic entanglements. However, the arrival of the possessed doll forces them to contend with a threat much more immediate than their next exam or heartbreak. Morris's character, alongside the others, must tap into her survival instincts and wit to face the sinister adversary that lurks within their home.

Jean Louise O'Sullivan portrays another member of the sorority, a character that adds more depth to the storyline as the sisters grapple with the terror that has befallen them. Together with her sorority sisters, O'Sullivan's character will have to navigate through the classic horror narrative of trying to understand and ultimately survive the supernatural threat.

The college campus and sorority house serve as the primary stage for this cat-and-mouse game between the sisters and the possessed dean-doll. The closed-off setting allows for tension to build, as the once safe space of the sorority house turns into a sprawling maze filled with danger around every corner.

Visually, the film features hallmark elements of a low-budget horror flick: dark lighting, tight interior shots, and practical special effects that give it an authentic genre feel. As the story unfolds, viewers are treated to moments of suspense and violence that are expected within the slasher subgenre. However, it is the film’s incorporation of the supernatural via the cursed doll that adds an extra layer of eeriness to the narrative.

The film's pacing is indicative of its genre, with an escalation that begins as unsettling incidents and builds to a crescendo of horror and desperation. The typical slasher movie rhythm of calm before the storm is present throughout, giving way to sudden bursts of action and anxiety as the sorority members face off against their miniature adversary.

As the narrative progresses, so does the characterization of both the sorority girls and the dean trapped within the doll. Their relationships, backgrounds, and personalities receive more attention, providing viewers with a deeper understanding of their motives and potential fears. This adds a level of complexity to the characters that can sometimes be overlooked in horror films that solely focus on the scare factor.

The music and sound design play critical roles in setting the tone. A mix of haunting melodies and jarring sound effects escalates the sense of dread that permeates throughout the movie, helping to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, anticipating the doll’s next move.

Sorority Slaughterhouse is a film that aims to entertain audiences who enjoy a blend of campy horror with a dash of humor, which often comes through in the interactions with the doll as well as in the sometimes over-the-top reactions of the characters facing this terror. This is a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously and understands its place within the horror genre.

With a combination of supernatural elements, traditional horror conventions, and a setting ripe for mayhem, Sorority Slaughterhouse offers a modern take on the slasher formula. It is a film designed to appeal to those who enjoy a good scare coupled with the nostalgia of horror movies from decades past. The ability of the cast, particularly the performances of Eric Roberts, Jessica Morris, and Jean Louise O'Sullivan, to navigate the demands of horror cinema helps to solidify the film’s place within the cult horror category.

Sorority Slaughterhouse is a 2016 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.3.