The Initiation of Sarah

The Initiation of Sarah is a 2006 made-for-TV movie aired on ABC Family Channel. Directed by Stuart Gillard, it stars an ensemble cast of Mika Boorem, Summer Glau, and JoAnna Garcia Swisher. The Initiation of Sarah explores themes of friendship, sisterhood, witchcraft, and the pressures of college life in a sorority. It is a thriller with hints of supernatural elements.

The movie is a remake of a 1978 telefilm of the same name and primarily follows the story of two sisters, Sarah and Lindsay Goodwin – played by Boorem and Garcia Swisher, respectively. The pair have vastly different personalities, which creates an interesting dynamic within the story, as they embark on their college journey together.

Mika Boorem, known for her roles in acclaimed films like Blue Crush and The Patriot, plays Sarah, an introverted young woman with a passion for knowledge. JoAnna Garcia Swisher, popular for her roles in series such as Reba and Once Upon a Time, plays Lindsay, Sarah's outgoing and socially ambitious fraternal twin. Both actresses deliver commendable performances, successfully capturing the distinct personalities and development of their characters.

Sarah and Lindsay, coming from a modest background, commence their college life at the prestigious Temple Hill University. Lindsay thrives in this new environment, quickly adapting to the college atmosphere and becoming a part of the Alpha Nu Gamma sorority. Sarah, on the other hand, struggles to fit in and is instead drawn to the eccentric, outcast sorority, the Psi Kappa.

Summer Glau, recognized for her roles in cult-classic shows like Firefly and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, portrays the enigmatic sorority president of Psi Kappa, Corrine. Corrine and her sorority sisters are more than they seem, and it becomes apparent that supernatural forces are at play, dragging Sarah into the eerie sorority secrets. The sorority's social outcast status, their mysterious rituals, and the members' unusual abilities hint at witchcraft, setting the stage for the supernatural elements threaded into the narrative.

The Initiation of Sarah spurs into a mix of psychological thriller and supernatural drama as a string of disturbing events unfolds. Sarah finds herself tangled in the dangerous rivalry of the Alpha Nu Gamma and Psi Kappa sororities. Sarah's different experiences with the two sororities, and her growing bond with Corrine gives rise to the primary conflict of the movie - including a series of escalating incidents that pull her further into the strange world that Psi Kappa inhabits.

The film does an excellent job of juxtaposing the glitz and glamor of sorority life with the sinister undercurrents of rivalry, peer pressure, and the occult. The plot dynamically unravels, exploring deep-seated insecurities, unlikely friendships, and the struggles of finding oneself amidst nerve-wracking college life.

The Initiation of Sarah, more than just a thriller, offers a captivating portrayal of college life and the complexities of sisterhood. The foundation of Sarah and Lindsay's relationship, their differences, competition, and the love they share as sisters magnify the overall tension of the story. Their characters' unfolding dynamics and their transformation as they teeter between their personal identities, academic success, and sorority loyalties drive the narrative's emotional depth.

The film is a curious blend of a college drama, suspense, and the supernatural. Throughout its runtime, it presents a thought-provoking examination of friendships, sisterhood, identity, and personal growth in the midst of perilous sorority secrets. The Initiation of Sarah is sure to bewitch audience members and pull them into a rollercoaster ride of emotions, supernatural secrets, and intriguing campus life.