In this made-for-TV shocker, a young sorority pledge (Kay Lenz) gets even for being humiliated in a hazing prank

The Initiation of Sarah is a 1978 made for TV movie that was directed by Robert Day.[1] It first aired on ABC on February 6, 1978 and starred Kay Lenz as a shy, withdrawn young woman that discovers that she has psychic powers after joining a sorority. The film achieved some controversy upon its initial airing on television as part of the film's plot involved Morgan Fairchild wearing a wet t-shirt after being thrown into a fountain, something that had not been previously shown in a made for TV movie.[2]
The film was later re-made in 2006 for ABC Family and Fairchild returned to portray the mother of the titular Sarah and her sister, who was re-named Lindsay.[3] Fairchild initially regretted portraying Jennifer in the 1978 film but later changed her mind after producer Chuck Fries stated that while it was easy to find an ingenue, it was difficult to find someone who could play a convincing "bitch".[4][3]

Critical reception for the DVD release of The Initiation of Sarah has been mixed to positive.[5] Most of the reviews shared the opinion that while the film was cheesy, they enjoyed the acting.[6][7] Multiple reviewers also noted its similarity to the 1976 film Carrie, which also dealt with the subject of a female outcast that discovers telekinetic powers, with comparing it unfavorably to the earlier film while still maintaining that The Initiation of Sarah was overall enjoyable.

Strange goings-on involve a naive college coed in the bizarre rites of an old sorority. Kathryn Crosby, playing a house mother, returned to filmmaking here in her first appearance following Bing's death. Mia Farrow's sister, Van Heflin's niece and Martin Balsam's daughter were among the other campus girls of questionable powers.