It seems that September is the perfect time of year to release horror flicks not quite good enough for the Halloween release market. Anyone with their share of experience in this film genre typically knows what to expect, especially if the plot involves a group of “hot” young women — namely, unadulterated slaughter. Director Stewart Hendler clearly had this objective at the forefront of his mind with the release of Sorority Row, a story of secrecy, sisterhood, and skimpy outfits.

This troubled saga begins at a wild hazing party at the Theta Pi sorority house. Strobe lights, booze, and half-naked pledges run rampant until a group of senior sisters decide to play a prank on Garrett (Matt O’Leary), the brother of sorority sister Chugs (Margo Harshman). Thinking the “roofies” he gave Megan (Audrina Patridge) are killing her, Garrett begs the girls to go to the hospital. The seemingly flawless (and vapid) troop pronounces their sister dead, and Garrett, still clueless to the prank, punctures Megan’s lungs, setting off a frenzy that puts in motion a deadly plan to ensure that no one else finds out what happened that night.

As several aspects of Sorority Row reveal, looks can be incredibly deceiving. Behind the doll-like personas that these girls portray, those closest to them can vouch that what is seen on the outside is not a clear depiction of who they really are.

Despite being a complete, two-faced menace, the sorority’s queen bee Jessica (Leah Pipes) captures our attention with her constant barrage of snide remarks and self-righteousness. As the outwardly picture-perfect girlfriend of a politician’s son, Jessica experiences the greatest fall from grace of the girls.

While this movie lacks a general sense of moral lesson, we can certainly call Cassidy (Briana Evigan) our protagonist, though she and all the other girls are clearly out to save their own skins. As the “rebel” of the group, Cassidy is sick of the backstabbing nature of her former sorority life and runs to the safe arms of her boyfriend — at least for a short while.

Even though all of the girls, including Ellie (Rumer Willis) and Claire (Jamie Chung) are sworn to secrecy about Megan’s murder, they’re all guilty of revealing details to some extent. As a result, it’s hard to feel any sort of sympathy for any of them. But honestly, who doesn’t love to see the demise of a clique 10 times more diabolical than Tina Fey’s Mean Girls?

Analyzing this movie purely on its slasher flick qualities, there is no use arguing with the fact that it’s pretty great. It’s hard to imagine a tire iron tricked out with spikes and sharp knives, but the killer’s weapon of choice surely provides for some slick, surprising slayings.

Where this and many modern horror films fall short is in the department of ingenuity. Granted, it can’t be terribly easy to find a totally new, groundbreaking scenario in which to place a massacre.

This kind of predictability can kill an otherwise decent film, but it doesn’t completely break Sorority Row.

Clichés and college stereotypes aside, the film provides a not-too-terrible way to entertain yourself for 100 minutes.