Sleepaway Camp
Directed by Robert Hiltzik
Starring Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Karen Fields
Review by Jordan
Sleepaway Camp, an early 80’s slasher set at a Summer Camp where young teens and perverted camp workers are dispatched in an increasingly gruesome fashion is surely just another Sean Cunningham knockoff yeah?
No.
Not at all.
What we have here is Friday the 13th in drag; an offbeat, bizarre journey into the mind of a director with some clear obsessions made in a time where originality, even in an overwrought genre, wasn’t subdued by marketing pressures. I suppose the film starts in a normal enough fashion, featuring promiscuous teens carelessly careening a jet-ski on a picturesque lake, but as soon as they’re distracted and fail to notice an overturned boat and our family of a dad and his 2 kids treading water, we’re swept away into what on the surface may seem a sub-grade and perhaps even listless B-grade horror, but in reality is one troubling little classic.
Angela, the survivor of this incident which leaves her father and brother dead, is raised by her eccentric (I was contemplating writing flaming bonkers, but thought I’d stick with proper grammar) Aunt Martha, who one summer decides to send her and her cousin Ricky to Camp Arawak to partake in various social and team-work orientated activities. A problem does arise however when a psychotic killer decides to start offing the residents of the camp, starting with the criminally deviant head chef who truly does deserve it. Just who is this murderer wreaking havoc in this normally peaceful environment? And why doesn’t anyone really seem bothered by it? (note: this second question isn’t actually answered, and it does appear to just be caused by some terrible screenwriting).
Of course you can’t review Sleepaway Camp without mentioning the ending, often referred to as being that of a far better film and amongst the more disturbing in memory. I implore anyone who is yet to visit Camp Arawak to not spoil this climax for yourself, and if you can, maybe hit yourself in the head just enough after reading this review to help you forget I even mentioned it. Other highlights include some grizzly practical effects, absurd flash-backs and a smorgasbord of terrifically poorly written and despicable characters.
Ultimately spawning 3 direct to video sequels and having garnered a strong cult following since release, Sleepaway Camp is more-than deserving of a spot on your shelf and a viewing this Halloween. Invite your friends over, hit the play button, and have fun watching the looks on their faces.
3.5 Flaming Bonkers Aunts (why not) out of 5
This came out in 83′? I thought it was later 80s? I could be thinking of the sequel. Anyways, was there a gruesome scene involving a hot curling iron? And the end…a certain Academy Award winning film borrowed from it I believe…
Great pick. I need to revisit this. The second one was even worth watching.
Yeah there were 2 sequels that came out in ’88 and ’89 that you could be thinking of. The curling iron scene however is definitely from the original… it’s possibly not as gruesome as you remember as it does leave a bit up to the imagination (though not a great deal… it’s pretty obvious what’s going on).
Very true! I don’t remember that film showing Sleepaway any respect with a ‘special thanks’ either…
The very premise of Unhappy Campers is absurd enough to give it a watch, ha.
Cheers, Jordan
What is the film that borrowed from it?
Anyway, I love Sleepaway Camp. It’s definitely one of my favorite slasher flicks/horror movies. I have yet to see the sequels, maybe that’s how I’ll celebrate Friday 13th.
I’d hate to drop that info and give it away for someone. They may start “crying”.
Haha okay I guess that’s a good point. I’ll google for the answer.
It came out 21 years ago and won several Academy Awards. Google should be able to answer the rest.
Yeah I think I got the movie clue from your first comment :). Pretty sure that a part of the director’s name is shared with a part of this wordpress’s name.
Bingo!
Loving these cryptic messages guys!
Eddie
Freakin’ love that movie.
Ha, looks like there are a few of us! Happy Friday 13th!
Jordan
This is the first horror movie I’d ever seen! I was about eight and was spending the night with a friend whose parents were a lot more lax than my own. All I can remember is the toilet scene and the twist. Such memories 🙂
Haha, being 8 and watching this is very impressive! How good are horror movie memories? Candyman is the one that haunts me from my childhood, and of course the clown phobia inducing It!
Jordan
I remember reading that Hiltzik wrote this as a thesis project on sexuality in slasher movies. Any validity to this that you know of?
Also, if you haven’t heard it, the podcast “How Did this Get Made?” did an amazing and hilarious episode on this movie. http://www.earwolf.com/episode/sleepaway-camp/
Obviously, a movie as crazy as Sleepaway Camp completely broke their brains.
Can’t say I’ve heard that thesis before Matt, but I can easily believe it! Sleepaway Camp certainly isn’t the work of committee and the logic behind that definitely makes sense.
I’ll have to check that podcast out, cheers for the link!
Jordan
Pingback: 10 Classic Movie Endings: Jordan’s Take | Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)·