Documentary co-directors Todd Phillips and Andrew Gurland, after profiling publisher Al Goldstein in Screwed (1997) moved on to this study of college fraternity hazing practices, gaining cooperation as long as frat houses and universities were not named. Activities at "Beta Chi" included excess alcohol consumption and licking substances from a nude dancer. After three weeks, however, the Beta brothers had second thoughts, and the filmmakers took off after receiving threats. At their next site, the filmmakers were only allowed to film if they participated in scheduled events, including being locked in a dog-cage and doing push-ups in vomit. One of the filmmakers was hospitalized with stomach pains. Filmed in 16mm for HBO, this hour-long documentary was shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Review
The elusive documentary from the creator of Hated: G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies, this exploration of the fraternity-hazing process runs the gamut of being revolting, hilarious, fascinating, and depressing. Though the exploits of the Greeks presented here is not far off from the antics of the legendary subject of his former effort, the fact that these subjects will likely move on to become the leaders of tomorrow lends Frat House a decidedly more horrifying slant. Produced for HBO and never aired due to supposed potential legal issues, rumors have since persisted that the reasoning behind the cable giant's refusal to air the documentary was due more to questions of authenticity than legality. Though the humiliation that these students endure in the name of brotherhood is both embarrassing and repulsive to anyone with an iota of dignity and self-respect, one can't help but suspect something is amiss as the film progresses. Following the filmmaker's hasty departure when their first group of subjects experiences a change of heart about having their antics documented for the world to see, their subsequent bid to continue the investigation seems forced and suspiciously synthetic. Rendered slightly less shocking in light of such prime-time squirm-fests as Fear Factor, it's the motivation behind these desperate acts of acceptance that is truly nauseating. The idea that the naïve college freshman would subject himself to being covered in excrement in order to make friends is much more sickening than the act itself, and the fact that they do so willingly offers only dejected desperation. Whether or not Frat House is authentic will ultimately be left for the viewer to decide, but the fact that future leaders seem more concerned with acceptance than developing as a confident and independent-minded thinkers remains a horrific prospect, even if the acts presented here prove manufactured. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Credit
Todd Phillips - Director; Todd Phillips - Producer; W. Mott Hupfel III - Cinematographer; Sheila Nevins - Executive Producer; Alex Wolfe - Sound/Sound Designer; J.F. Coleman - Composer (Music Score); Andrew Gurland - Director; Andrew Gurland - Producer; Anthony Hardwick - Cinematographer; Salamo Levin - Editor
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