Alpha Girls (2013)

Good movie but grossly overrated

A lot of fun.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

ALPHA GIRLS: A SATANIC SORORITY SLASHER is a quite dreadful indie horror film. The title and subtitle tell you everything you need to know about this movie, which is long-winded and very silly from beginning to end. It's merely an excuse for the camera to ogle teenage girls while throwing in some very lame horror content now and then. The film is very cheaply made with lots of over the top dialogue and attempts at witty repartee that fail. It's all about bitchiness whereas the horror is virtually non-existent. Ron Jeremy has a campy cameo as a priest (!).

Alpha Girls is the bloody good film debut driven forth from the depths of hell by way of Johnny Zito and Tony Trov, who each played an equal part in the film's production, writing and direction. A horror film from the bloody beginning where viewers are treated to a satanic ritual from the year 1896, the time of the Sorority's dark origination. A scene any horror hound will undoubtedly appreciate, serving up a nice dose of blood and skin. The film of course is of low budget and at times even uses it to advantage, ripe with moments of camp and twisted humor.The opening scene aside, the film begins in present day, introducing the newest Alpha pledge hottie Morgan (Falon Joslyn) as she becomes acquainted with the snooty house members and the chapter's house mother Ms. Grace (Victoria Guthrie) . Morgan soon butts heads with Veronica (Nikki Bell) the house president and is sent to join the other three young pledges in their tortuous pledge hazing. While first being at odds with one another, the pledges soon find solace in each other by plotting against their house tormentors. It's then that pledge Cassidy (Beverly Rivera) uses her gypsy background to perform a ritual between pledges where each is to receive the one thing they most want in life, but what is received does not always come without a cost. Cassidy has tapped into something much more powerful than her own manifestations, something that is deeply rooted into the cultish history of the house. All hell soon breaks loose, sisters begin to die, it seems no one is safe from the evil power awakened from within the Alpha-Beta house.The film, despite it's novice creators and restrictive budget, manages to pull off some pretty entertaining scenes continuing throughout the runtime. It's full of beautiful women that fulfill their parts without anything cringe-worthy and that's a lot to be said for this type of film. The effects were minimal, scenes of blood mostly with little actual gore, not lacking but not overkill. They even throw in Ron Jeremy for a cameo as a confessional priest, although I was hoping for a glory hole gag that didn't happen, oh well. Overall, this film accomplishes what it intended, it was a decent B-horror flick with some good entertainment value.

Alpha Girls screened at an art house theater nearby and I took a chance. Not a huge horror fan but I do like a good, cheap night of fun. The movie opens with a particularly sadistic murder and I was afraid the next 90 minutes I'd be stuck watching one senseless death after another. It turns out Alpha Girls was more like Carrie than it is like Saw.If we're just talking about plot then AG presses all the right buttons. You're subjected to some emotional scaring by the worst sorority sisters in history. The torture Veronica and her pink cronies inflict on the hapless new pledge class is humiliating, particularly the hazing scene in the basement with the hot iron brand shaped like a pentagram.I couldn't help wonder what sort of people are so desperate to be included that they'd degrade themselves like this. Somewhere around the third act the victims transform into the monsters. It's both satisfying and sad to see them get their revenge.The ending hints at a sequel and a post-credit short movie reveals a hidden twist!

Summary Spoilers... Nothing major.The Alpha Girls were super powerful witches once upon a time. Now they're all just spoiled rich girls with no idea of their legacy. Along comes Cassady, a new pledge, with a deeper understanding of the dark arts. After she gets her hands on a magical book full of the devil's words, all hell breaks loose.The cast was beautiful and my favorite scenes are the times all four main characters get to interact. The girls have very distinctive personalities and we get some time with each. So, when people start dying I really cared about them. My understanding is that this movie was made for no money. Regardless, the gore is great, totally sick and bloody. What little budget there was must have been spent on the final 15 minute climax, replete with digital effects. In general I applaud little flourishes in the art and wardrobe that made Alpha Girls feel huge.