Tuesday, October 16, 2018

BETA KAPPA KILL! THE 10 BEST SORORITY HORROR MOVIES by Rachel Prin


Trust.  Secrecy.  Solidarity. Loyalty.  Sisterhood.  These are all common phrases and mantras surrounding the mysterious and intriguing institution of the sorority.  Sorority Horror is an fascinating sub-genre of horror films that seeks to give little glimpses into what may potentially happen behind those closed doors.  Or at least…what outsiders think might be happening.
While there are certainly a lot of films that take place on college campuses, there seem to be more that focus on the sorority versus the fraternity.  What could those girls be up to? The process of the initiation, rushing, hazing and hopefully acceptance is one that is not only entwined in the college experience, but also drenched in mystery and allure.  So let’s pull back the curtain a bit and take a look.  Here are 10 of the best Sorority Horror Movies:

10. HELL NIGHT (1981)

Quaaludes, Jack Daniels, Linda Blair and a plot that fuses The House on Haunted Hill with a slasher flick.  In order to gain acceptance into their preferred Greek house, four pledges must stay the night in the infamous Garth Manor.  Of course, these four co-eds are in for a long night as they soon discover they are not alone…
Tagline: “Pray for day!”

9. KILLER PARTY (1986)

Plenty of pranks, possession and pledges abound in this film with a surprisingly awesome title card.  Oh, and did I mention, there’s a special guest appearance by the band White Sister!?
Tagline: “By the end of the dance, some of the sorority sisters were dead on their feet…

8. SISTERS OF DEATH (1976)


When a potential new member is killed during the initiation into their super secret all female sorority like society, the girls soon find out they cannot run from their past.  A quick watch (clocking in at only 87 minutes), this film helps set the stage for a lot of films on this list.  While certainly not a great film, it is a fun one and provides the blueprint for many sorority centric films to come.
Tagline: “Don’t bother to scream…there’s nobody to hear you…except your killer!”

7. THE INITIATION OF SARAH (1978)


This made for TV movie has been commonly referred to as ‘Carrie Goes to College,’ and rightfully so.  With an impressive cast featuring Morgan Fairchild, Shelley Winters and Kay Lenz, this film centers around Sarah (the Carriefigure) and her perfect sister Patty.  Both are pledging to sororities, and to no one’s surprise, Patty gets into her mother’s alma mater, while Sarah is shuffled off to a less lucrative house.  Oh yeah, and did I mention Sarah has telekinetic psychic powers.  I feel like you probably already know where this is heading…Better than it should be, perhaps due to the fact that Tom Holland (Fright NightChild’s Play) was one of the writers.

Tagline: “She was born with devastating psychic powers, and she’s forced to unleash them in a shocking finale!

6. THE INITIATION (1984)

This combo slasher/sorority horror movie hits all the right notes for fans of these 80’s genres.  A pledge initiation prank leads the young girls into a situation that none of them could have anticipated in, where else, but a mall.  We are introduced to Daphne Zuniga (Melrose PlaceSpaceballs) in the film in her first lead role. The incredible and timeless Vera Miles (Psycho) also graces the screen.  These two women combined make this movie worthwhile, as well as a few twists and unique kills you may not see coming.
Tagline: “They pledge themselves to be young, stay young…and die young.

5. SORORITY ROW (2009)


It’s rare that a remake as well as the original appear on the same list, but here we are.  Sorority Row is a remake of 1983’s House on Sorority Row.  While similar in plot, this one does take its own path and manages to create a film that pays tribute to its namesake while standing its own ground.  In true early 2000’s style, the cast features reality star Audrina Patridge (The Hills), famous child Rumer Willis, and an inexplicably good cast member with Carrie Fisher playing the House Mom. When it comes to actual sorority horror, yes there’s boobs, blood, lingerie and drinking, however this film really emphasizes the bond of sisterhood and the hold that can have on a member.  The sorority is not just a setting for a movie to happen around here, it does play a crucial part in the film and therefore solidly deserves its place on this list.

Tagline: “Theta Pi Must Die…

4. SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIMEBALL BOWL-O-RAMA (1988)

I’m not going to pretend this is a good movie…but it is an awesome one. Two girls pledging to a sorority must go with a group of horny nerds and steal a trophy from the local bowling alley in order to gain admission into the house.  Soon they encounter the tough talking Spider (played by Scream Queen Linnea Quigley) and unwittingly release an imp who has been trapped inside the bowling trophy for years.  An insane 80’s take on The Monkey Paw story, this film is one you really have to see to believe.  Cast also features Robin Stille as the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge) at the sorority and Brinke Stevens as one of the pledges.  Both appear in Slumber Party Massacre as well and are faces that are great to see on screen together again in this film.
Tagline: “In a bowling alley from hell…there’s only one way to score…

3. SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE (1986)

All the best parts of sorority horror coupled with bits of Halloween and Argento can be found in this film.   The film is written and directed by Carol Frank and it’s the only writing and directing credit she has to date.  Frank was the assistant to Amy Holden Jones (director of Slumber Party Massacre) and it’s easy to see the influence this experience must have had on her. Not quite as sleazy as the title would have you believe, and yet just as low-budget as you can imagine this film would be.  An interesting take on this small sub-genre of horror and a decent slasher to boot.
Tagline: “A slash course in absolute terror!

2. THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW (1983)

Here we go.  This is the film that really encompasses the idea of sorority horror.  A group of sorority sisters, involved in a prank gone terribly, horribly wrong.  But what are a group of young girls full of potential to do? Well, cover up the crime obviously.  All of this amidst partying, dancing, drinking and flirting obviously.  The main group of women in this film do a great job and their acting is surprisingly convincing and believable.  It’s no wonder that Eileen Davidson who plays the HBIC Vicki would go on to spend decades on soap operas such as Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless.  Oh yeah, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  Of course, the girls cannot escape their past and become hunted by an unknown assailant.  A killer slasher that will leave you guessing and scratch that sorority itch all at the same time.
Tagline: “Sorority Sisters…Sisters in Life.  Sisters in Death!

1. BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

A truly groundbreaking and important film in so many different ways, Black Christmas stands firmly in its position at the top of this list.  The girls of Pi Kappa Sigma have been terrorized by obscene phone calls from a mysterious stranger for weeks now.  Then, their sorority sister Clare disappears.  It’s not long before fear really begins to set in and the police can no longer ignore the girls pleas for help.  What ensues is a cat and mouse game between the sorority sisters, the police…and the killer.  Where this film really gains points is in the depth of its’ characters and the underlying stories that run throughout it.

The late Margot Kidder plays the tough, boozy, yet loving Barb who steals every scene she’s in and has the best death in the film by far.  Olivia Hussey plays Jess; a woman torn between her future and her present.  Faced with an incredibly tough decision she navigates the situation in a way that was not commonly portrayed in film in 1974.  All of this and a now infamous horror movie trope that would come back with 1979’s When a Stranger Calls and into the mainstream with Wes Craven’s 1996 Scream.  A slow burn that has all of the best parts of sorority horror, without all the filler garbage that’s often added in to titillate audiences.  A film that will leave you unsettled, entranced and in awe, Black Christmas is number one for a reason and should certainly not be missed.
Tagline: “He knows when you’re sleeping, he knows if you’re awake…HE KNOWS…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A record store nerd from Boise, Idaho with an obsession for horror soundtracks and all things creepy.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

KICKFLIP MY HEART - OFF2BROOKLYN by Rachel Prin & James Reeves

Kickflip My Heart
Story by Rachel Prin

OFF2BROOKLYN 
Filmed by Rachel Prin 
Edited by James Reeves


“It’s cool to see someone actually using a real camera for a change.” 

The statement came from a long haired, late 20’s, sweaty skateboarder who she’d been casually observing doing tricks and laps around McCarren Skatepark. 

 

She sat at the picnic table, eyes and lens glued to her boyfriend as he navigated children, scooters, amateurs and seasoned skaters; all traversing the same relatively small patch of concrete and steel. As an outside observer, the scene seemed chaotic, but as she watched, it soon became apparent that there was a system in place; an unspoken order and method. Young adults, kids and seasoned pros all sharing the same space. There was a respect given to the participants who, clearly, took the sport seriously. Lines form to allow certain features to be utilized or lines to be carried out in a safe and organized manner. 
 

He pushed to start a line and quickly aborted as a young girl, covered head to toe in protective garb, slowly pushes her way down a ramp. Small children always have the right of way. 

The screech of wheels on cement as quick turns are made compliment the abrasive crack of boards hitting the ground. The sounds filling her ears with no distinguishable rhythm as a car horn blares in the not so distant distance. It hits her as she sits next to a mother, watching her young son slowly push his way around the outskirts of the park, that she’s been let in on a community, a culture that she’s always loved in one sense, and yet never really ever known. While skateboarding runs in her blood, so did Lithuanian ancestry; and she couldn’t speak a word of that language either. 
                         
Throughout the week they had visited multiple skateparks throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan; LES, McCarren, and Blue Park. They had visited a plethora of famous street skate spots, some with names, some he’d simply discovered on his own; Alligator Ledge, Williamsburg Monument, Brooklyn Banks. They’d hit not one, but two skateshops; KCDC and Labor. Hell, they’d even crashed a Boosted Board event at the Brooklyn Pump Track. She’d observed graffiti, covering the bricks, walls, ramps and trash cans; even the worst of it better than the best in most places. Healthy populations of pigeons around every turn. Stickers and tattered posters pasted wherever an open space presented itself. Empty soda cans, bags and even radom apparel randomly littered the outskirts of the parks...but never where a skateboard would have to travel. Each park was different. Some were sprawling massive parks that had polished, extensive cement features. Some more minimalist with well worn features, chipped asphalt, plywood boxes and unsecured movable rails. 
 

Yet, no matter where they went, the sentiment was the same. The same rules applied. The same respect given to all. It didn’t matter that he was from Florida or that she was from Boise. His talent and passion were instantly accepted and recognized. His tricks equally applauded or recognized alongside everyone else’s. Advice and spots exchanged willingly. And while she filmed from the sidelines, there was a respect given to that as well. No one messed with her or made obnoxious faces or gestures at the camera. In fact, it was just the opposite. With no prompting, skaters went out of their way to stay out of the shot, go around her and make sure that the subject of her focus was not obstructed. The one time some young, scooter kids did stand in the way, before she could even say anything to them, another skater addressed the issue, and made the kids aware of the error that they had just made. 

“How is she going to be able to film his tricks when you’re standing right in the way?” 

This was more than a hobby, more than a recreational activity; this was a culture. A culture that even so far from where they’d come, was the same. It was a language and a community and she felt truly touched to be welcomed into. And yet, there was even more to it than that. He had brought her here for one purpose. To skate New York. As she watched him grind along a rail, a chipped paint rail begging for wax, he quickly pushes past her, focused and determined. She couldn’t help but fall in love with him a little more. He had shared this place, this world with her and she didn’t take that for granted. While the setting of New York was inspiring, visually unbelievable and unlike anything she’d ever experienced, this vulnerability and glimpse into such an important component of the man she loved was the one thing she would truly never forget about visiting New York. 
 

She thought back to the days previous, to boards that had been focused out of frustration. Frustration out of successful tricks that no one except her would ever see. Frustration out of passion and love. She hadn’t fully understood that until this very moment. For him, and for so many others, this was not just a “fun hobby.” This was a part of him. As much as his green eyes, Italian blood and 80’s action movies. 

He did a kickflip over a rail and pushed towards her. 

“I think I’m good here. You ready to go?”

He was sweaty, tired, handsome and happy. His heart and trick quota was filled for the day. The satisfaction clearly written across his face and evident in the timbre of his voice. 

They gathered their stuff and she shut down the camera. As he pushed off and skated a bit ahead of her, she followed behind taking in the view. The rhythmic cadence of his wheels crossing sidewalk cracks was comforting and made her heart swell. They were surrounded by towering apartment buildings, townhouses, the Manhattan skyline clearly visible on the horizon. Brooklyn was a magical place for the obvious reasons, and for the not so obvious ones as well. He jumped up a curb and onto a slanted street level cellar door. The corrugated metal released a reverberating noise that echoed off the nearby buildings. As he landed the trick he came to a stop, flipped up his board and waited for her to catch up. Their last day in New York for this trip maybe. But certainly not their last.


Friday, August 31, 2018

Cancel Save changes Last Resort footage from a Las Vegas & Boise trip

A trip to Las Vegas for InfoComm 2018 with Rachel Prin & James Reeves (dats me).  Then another trip to Boise, Idaho for my birthday.  Thanks to the lovely Spacebar Arcade, Prestige Skate Shop, & The Record Exchange for making it such a wonderful trip!!!

Dump The Trump & The Park Clips


Friday, June 15, 2018

Last Resort presents Zola Jesus - SOAK

Another beautiful track from the camp of Zola Jesus.


Zola Jesus "Soak" from Okovi
lyrics
Born with a scar far above my head
I count the stars crowding my vision
And I feel nothing instead
I feel nothing instead
Soak in decay, spoil into loam
Give what I take but it never feels enough
So, I give nothing instead
I give nothing instead
Take me to the water
I am not free but I am sorry, I am stone
You should know I would never let you down
You should know I would never let you drown
Loan by the skin, a vessel with two hands
Touch what I can before I hand it in
So, I touch nothing instead
I touch nothing instead
Born into debt, a line of no request
Pay what I can but the rest, I have no chance
So, I pay nothing instead
I pay nothing instead
Take me to the water
I am not free but I am sorry, I am stone
You should know I would never let you down
You should


Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Found a DIY spot

Got a chance to go exploring a few weekends ago, and found this really fun aka "hard as fuck to skate" do it yourself mini-drainage ditch spot.  I've gone back once since this time and filmed a couple tricks for Sahgia Silva's "Los Pendejos".


The spot is just a little further after the base of the 528 causeway heading towards the beach (east) on the right hand side.  It has a friendly guard who lives there whose house (maybe it's just a tree) you walk through to get there.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Skateboarding Hong Kong Trip Part 1

Last October (2017) Max and I went to Hong Kong.  For both of us it was our first time to the ex-UK governed island.  Here is Max's montage edit from the trip hope you enjoy!  #skateboarding #hongkong

Part 1



Part 2

Thursday, March 1, 2018

John Maus "Cop Killer"

Inspired by a recent performance from John Maus, James an I decided to create a fan video for Maus' song "Cop Killer."  With a trip already planned to Las Vegas, it felt natural to shoot the video there as Vegas provided the perfect backdrop.  We stayed at the historic Flamingo Hotel, on the 17th floor, and had an incredible view of the Las Vegas strip.  We shot the entire video over the course of approximately 5 hours.  James, an extremely experienced filmmaker and me...not so much.  This was my first real experience handling professional camera equipment, and the experience was valuable and eye opening to say the least. Once we returned home, James was able to edit the video and create what you now see here.  Our first official release under our company Last Resort, we hope you enjoy the results. Stay tuned for much more to come.



Wednesday, February 28, 2018

A Las Vegas Fable by Rachel Prin

Sunlight poured in through the windows creating a pocket of warmth that engulfed that table.  The remnants of bread, salad and dessert lightly littered the white tablecloth.
He gazed out the window, observing while he sipped at the coffee that still steamed inside the cup.
She gazed at him, observing the observer.
The path that lead to this place was a long and winding one.
All the right words had lured them both through the cityscape, the crowds, the hurdles.
This was not quite where either one thought their paths would lead, and yet here they were.  

Sipping coffee.  Surrounded by thousands, and yet choosing to remain in each others company. In her mind she had encountered his kind before and yet...he had a way. A way of rationalizing her fears. The ears? The better to hear her with.  The eyes? The better to see her with. To. Really. See. Her.  


Side by side they continued down the path laid out before them. The buildings and lights dominating the scenery, the crowds of strangers blocking all easy pathways. When the crowds became exceptionally claustrophobic he reached for her. Neither one wanting to become lost amidst this madness.

As daylight faded, a new landscape seemed to appear before them. What was once illuminated and harsh became shadowed. Buildings that once appeared weathered and worn finally appeared to come to life. She admired the transformation from 17 stories up, noting the power that light (or the lack thereof) can have. This city, like so many things, looked better in the dark.

Behind her the sounds of running water were muffled, but audible behind the glass door.  
Despite the fact that she knew better, she felt safe turning her back and leaving it exposed. Mesmerized by the slow moving lights of traffic, she didn’t even notice when the sound of water stopped.  


The glass door quietly and smoothly slid open on it’s tracks, revealing them once again to each other. Turning her head, her eyes absorbed the sight of him. The light and shadow played off one another over his body. She was struck by his strength.  The physical strength was obvious, his muscles defined and cultivated.  There was also an internal strength. She saw that now and knew that it was that which she should potentially fear. This is where true damage could be inflicted.  
Or undone.   

She could feel his eyes pass over her.  His breath, warm and determined against her skin. His hands? The better to hold her with. His mouth? The better to kiss her with.  Tonight the fear would not overwhelm her. Tonight she would trust her instinct.  Tonight she would trust herself.  Pushing the thoughts and the past from her mind she gave into him, willingly. And it was in this she discovered a feeling of her own strength. A strength that had felt so distant for so long. And it was here that she made her crucial mistake…


The next morning the room was quiet.  Sunlight fought its way through the drapes that covered the floor to ceiling windows. Pillows were scattered across the massive King sized bed.  A dress, shoes, jackets were strewn across furniture and lay piled on the floor. A couch, once aligned against a far wall was now crooked and sat out of place, pushed into the middle of the room. The blankets that had once been folded so neatly, so tightly across the bed were now a giant mass that encompassed a body...one body. Awakened by the ever determined sunlight, these same blankets, their use no longer required, were tossed to the side. Slowly the haze of sleep began to wear off and the reality of what had transpired began to sink in.  It had happened again. Throwing his hands up he omitted a cry, guttural and intense.  By doing so he relieved the feelings that had built up inside.  
This ritual satisfied, he finished dressing, tied his shoes, and walked out of the room towards the elevator.  The day was just beginning.