Sleepaway Camp

This film has been one I have wanted to see since I can remember, I honestly can't remember if I saw it when I was a kid but once I got into my teens and got into horror I kept hearing about Sleepaway Camp. The reason I just did not end up seeing it until recently, just was not able to find it! Finally it came into my possession and I finally got to tackle this film I have heard so much about, and the twist ending had been spoiled for me but it did not take away anything from the film. This one is a slasher and it came along after the success of Friday the 13th, having that camp setting and all. It starts off rather strange, with a boating accident and then it fast forwards to two cousins going away to camp. The girl, Angela is shy and doesn't talk much and Ricky tries to protect her because you know being socially awkward is going to get you picked on. Of course bodies start showing up, and it is clear there is a killer on the loose.

 

I must say, the acting in this is truly atrocious, it is terrible! I don't think anyone in this is actually any good, aside from Felissa Rose as Angela, she is alright for the most part. This is an 80's film, a clear product of its time, the clothes are just awful and I must wonder what was up with the mens fashion? Cut off tops and all the rest, I mean it was just too 80's looking! I can't quite put my finger on it, but there was likely not much of a budget for the wardrobe department. I mean other films from the 80's didn't look this bad with the fashion, I thought some of the fashion in Elm St 2 was shocking, but Sleepaway Camp certainly takes the cake. The awful acting and bad wardrobe ends up being part of the charm of this film, I was entertained for the most part, so not altogether a bad thing. The storyline itself is simple, and I think it was a smart move having the twist ending that it did. I mean you know exactly who the killer is right away, they did not try to hide it or if they were they did a terrible job. But to set this aside they went for something a little different, and it is rather creepy and disturbing but then it just ends without any explanation and that for me didn't work. The flashbacks with the worst actress who played the aunt I think were rather silly and done in such a humorous fashion. I would have liked a little more with the ending at least.

 

The actual kills in this film are pretty well done and some are pretty creative, and that is part of the films strength too. You go into a slasher wanting to see some good kills and in a film like this you want these teens to get it, so you appreciate the creative stuff. The characters in this film are just awful, for the sake of being awful. You can't blame someone for wanting to do away with these a-holes! The sympathetic character is Angela, even Ricky isn't because while he sticks up for Angela he himself is a bully. To add a bit more there is a little romance between Angela and Paul and it really does work, which is another strong point for the film. At the end of the day Sleepaway Camp is a slightly above average Slasher film, and it is worth watching if you are a fan of the genre. Not sure I quite understand how people hold this in such high regard, there are better Slashers out there. And alas there are much worse and therein lies the appeal with this film, those ones make this look better. Not sure if I would watch it again anytime soon, but I wasn't really too disappointed with it and glad I finally got around to seeing it.