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Don't worry, the movie is horrifying for different reasons than the poster suggests

A 2017 drama/comedy directed by Grant S. Johnson, that embodies the stereotypical "frat house" lifestyle while also calling attention to its less savoury aspects.

Starring Connor Lawrence, Justin Mark, and Cathryn Dylan. the film follows the journey of Nick, a shy, nerdy freshman, and his larger-than life roommate Billy as they try to join the legendary Phi Delta fraternity. Nick faces a series of increasingly difficult and morally questionable choices in order to become a part of the coveted organization. It also has a hefty helping of Jerkass if that's your thing.


Tropes Present In This Work:

  • Ambiguously Gay: Chad. Becomes the crux of his story arc, particularly at the end of Hell Week.
  • Asshole Victim: It's easy to feel bad for Nick at first, when he is a geeky, hopeless romantic under constant pressure from Billy and his father. It's hard to feel sorry for him after he has sex with Courtney multiple times, treats Rosanna poorly, talks down to Billy, and generally embraces the worst aspects of the frat lifestyle.
  • Betty and Veronica: Played with. Rosanna, despite being brunette, represents the a more traditionally romantic path for Nick while his flings with Courtney and other sorority girls present a less healthy dynamic.
  • Big Man on Campus: Billy can be seen as this, although Nick also comes close by the end. If only his big secret hadn't come to light...
  • Chekhov's Gun: Billy warns Nick that he will be looked down on if others on campus learn that he is drawing financial aid. The aid forms are ultimately used by Billy to prevent Nick's acceptance into Phi Delta, after he had sacrificed his personality, schoolwork, and budding crush on Rosanna.
  • The Corrupter: Billy to Nick. Within minutes of meeting, the former pressures the latter into taking a shot of cinnamon whiskey.
  • Deconstructed Trope: Deconstructs multiple tropes relating to college parties and fraternities including Wild Teenage Party, Big Man on Campus, and others. Juxtaposes the "glamourous" elements of frat life (e.g. notoriety, popularity, endless partying) with more negative elements (e.g. hazing, peer pressure, sexism, racism, nepotism, etc.)
  • Downfall by Sex: Partially leads to Nick's falling out with Rosanna, after he sleeps with Courtney multiple times along with other sorority sisters.
  • Expy: Similar to Superbad, although this one is about getting into a fraternity, rather than a single party.
  • Fiendish Fraternity: The fraternity is portrayed as racist, sexist, and homophobic, and the hazings are humiliating at best and involve some extremely dubiously consensual hookups at worst. Nick is totally corrupted by his (brief) time with them.
  • Fratbro: The whole point of the movie. Every male character (and pretty much every female one except for Nick's mother) qualify as well.
  • Girl on Girl Is Hot: As part of their hazing, the sorority girls are made to watch lesbian pornography to see who gets the most aroused by it.
  • I Just Want to Have Friends: Zigzagged. Nick initially has no interest in partying or meeting girls. Caving under pressure from Billy and his father, he makes a strong effort to join Phi Delta and become one of its "brothers".
  • Initiation Ceremony: Phi Delta holds one at the end of Hell Week to induct new members and reject those who fail to make the cut.
  • Jerkass: Billy certainly qualifies as he pressures Nick to hook up with women that he has no interest in and neglect his schoolwork. The Phi Delta leadership also qualify, with multiple scenes featuring intense hazing, verbal abuse, racism, and general dickishness. By the end, Nick realises that he also qualifies.
  • Karma Houdini: Played straight with Billy, who faces no consequences for preventing Nick from joining Phi Delta after pressuring him to act poorly and give up his crush on Rosanna..
  • Large Ham: Billy, especially the scene where he sits on a table in the library. The Phi Delta leadership and "Mr. Nick" also qualify.
  • Moment Killer: Nick finds it difficult to talk to Rosanna one-on-one as they are continualy interrupted by others.
  • Nerds Are Sexy: Rosanna finds Nick's quiet demeanor endearing when she first meets him. Later, her sorority sisters make a point of having sex with Nick to make her upset.
  • A Party, Also Known as an Orgy: Literally, in one scene.
  • Political Overcorrectness: Early in the movie, several Phi Delta members are seen debating whether to bring in more "minorities". Most are not on board with the idea.
  • Pyrrhic Victory: Nick overhauls his personality to fit in with Phi Delta, only to be rejected after alienating Rosanna.
  • Serious Business: Anyone involved with a fraternity or sorority takes the lifestyle VERY seriously.
  • Sinister Sorority Sisters: The sorority sisters aren't much better than the frat brothers, forcing their pledges to watch lesbian porn and subjecting them to homophobic abuse, and also contributing to Nick's Downfall by Sex.
  • Squick: The recruits for Phi Delta are hazed mercilessly, including one scene where a recruit is peed on by a member of Phi Delta's leadership.
  • Toxic Friend Influence:
    • Billy to Nick, in the most obvious example.
    • Rosanna's sorority sisters also qualify.
  • Wacky Fratboy Hijinx: As part of the recruitment process for Phi Delta and the ZB sorority, members must perform ridiculous tasks including dressing in tinfoil, being subject to degradation, and a "scavenger hunt" that involves some questionably consensual sex.
  • Was It Really Worth It?: Nick fools the Phi Delta leadership into thinking he has what it takes, but loses everything when he is refused membership after ruining his relations with Billy and Rosanna. It's even worse when it is implied that his father will be disappointed.
  • Wild Teen Party: Played straight with many of the party scenes, although the older members of Phi Delta are more likely than not well into their twenties.

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