When one browses for posters suitable for ‘poster of the week’ status, there needs to be a certain quality that, for whatever reason, allows it to emerge from the mire. Sometimes that quality can be good and other times it can be bad. The poster for 1984’s The Initiation falls lovingly into both categories. It’s undoubtedly made well, but god… the concept is so odd it hurts my head a little. IT’S A CANDLE WOMAN! She doesn’t appear to have a wick – rather the flame floats mysteriously above her and wax cakes her rather calm-looking body. This one gets bonus points for the curious tagline, which suggests initiates must pledge themselves to both staying and dying young. It seems contradictory, but what do I know? I’ve never been turned into a human candle and I have passed the point of ‘young’.

The Initiation

Movie: The Initiation
Director: Larry Stewart
Country of movie: USA
Year of movie: 1984
Country of Poster: USA