framptonhollis 'Sleepaway Camp' is a film that is weird from the very start. The opening scene is pretty bad to be honest, the acting is so ridiculously week and there's this generally schlocky feeling throughout it. Then, in the very next scene, we get this bizarre encounter with a beyond-eccentric mother character performed by a lady who acts as if she's in a John Waters movie. Then, as the film goes on, we've got blatantly pedophiliac chefs, both comically and uncomfortably lengthy shots holding on the aftermath of the slasher killings, noticeable homoeroticism, seeming social commentary, a perverted old camp councilor who's shamelessly greedy, and just a general build up of events that is super discomforting. It's super funny, too, in a way, sometimes intentionally, sometimes possibly unintentionally, but I honestly don't even know. The movie is described as "original" by many solely because of its twist, which is extremely unique and affecting (especially how it is shown and presented and hinted at throughout the film; plus, the final image is genuinely unsettling and will likely haunt my mind for years to come), but throughout there's just so much weird things going on that I think it really is one of the most unique slasher films ever made. The constant commentary on sexuality, the surreal humour, and the abundance of bizarre pauses/stretches of just horrible screaming coming from the victims help make the whole film an original work of horror cinema and just generally disturbing to me. In its final moments, it isn't perfectly done, and the gore effects are kind of cheap and simple, but it depicts some things that are just so brutal and difficult to digest, and, in the end, it is super tragic and depressing. It's hard for me to exactly say what I can really think of this film, it seriously makes me want to look into it and whatever its intentions may be. There are really campy moments throughout and a lot of what seems to be very intentional black comedy and there are a few scenes that just go all out and nearly approach some kind of surreal or dreamlike quality that's tough to pin down, and there are these odd sequences of what feels like shameless filler, and then it just punches you in the face with a heartbreaking and horrifying final scene and then that's it. One thing is for certain, this was an extremely entertaining film to watch throughout, and it did have a serious impact on me despite its numerous flaws.

jtindahouse After watching 'Sleepaway Camp' I was left to wonder whether horror has in fact gone backwards in the last 30 years. It's very rare that a modern horror film manages to have any effect on me whatsoever, however this film achieved it. A simple but effective tone, and a twist ending for the ages, all equal a very creepy experience. Horror has changed an incredible amount over the years. They used to apply the principles of, "Keep it simple, stupid." Before anything has happened in the movie and we are simply being treated to the opening credits over top of shots of the camp, the haunting music is being thrust at us already to set the mood. The acting is about what you expect, the delivery is often clunky, yet the intensity in key characters does the trick. I went into the film knowing there was to be a twist (the main reason I watched it). I spent the entire film trying to guess what it would be, and came up short. The visuals and sound in that final scene have gone down in history as one of the most shocking scenes in film history, and rightly so. The whole thing is just so unexpected and thrust on us in such a way that you can't help but become very uncomfortable. A good twist should have you looking back on things and questioning what you thought you know. This one does that and has quite a few discussion raising points. I'm very glad I took the time to track this film down and give it a watch, because it turned out to be a very rewarding experience.

Foreverisacastironmess I really grew to love this movie fast, I enjoyed it a bit more each time I saw it. In a switch that is very rare for a slasher, rather than the kill scenes, what I personally like most about is the characters and how they swear, are frequently mean to each other and just how they interact, I think it comes off as very natural with this movie mostly. It was cool to see a flick like this where a lot of the teens were actually teenagers and not 20 somethings pretending to be. And while they're not super-developed or anything, the characters are characters and aren't totally faceless victims, it at least attempts to give them a little personality and humanity, and that's something that really stood out a lot to me with Sleepaway Camp. I think they brilliantly portrayed the atmosphere of the camp. It's not amazingly original as a whole, but it's definitely one slasher that offers a little more, its creepy underlining elements of insanity and child gender blurring push the envelope and make it stand out somewhat, there's deeper psychological stuff going on beneath the typical stalk and kill surface. I like the slashers that try out different concepts and approaches to the setup, which this certainly does. To me it's deserving of being regarded as more than just a fantastic twist ending. Yeah sure it caps off the whole thing in a brilliant way that you can never unsee, but it deserves a little more credit than only being known for that crazy final scene. Without the rest of the compelling mystery of the story to build up to it that ending, for how shocking it is, just wouldn't be nearly as effective. You may know Angela is the killer but you'll never know she's a guy! You'll never see it coming, and you'll barely see it when it appears, but it's there alright! And for better or worse it sticks with you. But it's not necessarily the uh, the penis that sticks with you, it's the whole notion of it and the bizarre and chilling image of the frozen face with the mouth agape, making those horrible animal sounds. Brr, oh man! I thought Felicia Rose gave a wonderful performance, mostly all with her big dark eyes, she puts a lot of feeling into them, there's something magnetic and eerie about all her stares, you never know what she's thinking... I don't get why poor Paul deserved to die. Apart from one very understandable and forgivable slight, he was nothing but a friend to her. I like the scenes of them together, their chemistry and friendship seemed sweet and genuine. It's funny, as opposed to everyone else she ruthlessly slaughters Paul's murder feels especially cold and unforgivable and finally makes her a monster to the audience after appearing so innocent and harmless all through the movie. I guess sometimes you just don't know what's really looking you right in the face until it's too late. She's probably made a few people turn the movie right off in her day, but I just love that aunt. If overacting was a crime they'd lock her up and throw away the key! Now she is creepy. She's the real monster of the movie, what kind of a demented bitch would inflict such a terrible thing on an innocent child who's just lost his family? I get a big kick out of the actress who plays Judy, an ideal campground mean girl for the ages! I find all of her over the top facial expressions and mannerisms just hysterical, she's kinda terrible, but she puts so much bitchy character into her face that it works and she's such a riot to watch! I love it but something that I found annoying was how the old man kept making excuses to keep the camp running even as people were turning up dead, when in reality they'd all have been sent home after one.. Movie logic! Also it's just gotta be said, some of the guys' wardrobe is seriously ridiculous, it looks like it's taken from a gay porn shoot and really lends the movie a bit of a homoerotic streak that's pretty dang hard to ignore at points! Overall though, they got a lot out of what they had to work with, and you can tell that they weren't working with a big budget. Absolute gem of a slasher that's worth checking out if you like the earlier more weird ones. "Come children, let's be on our way!"

begob Years after a boating tragedy on the lake at Sleepaway Camp, a summer's intake of teen campers is stalked by a mysterious killer.Oh my sainted trousers. I watched this because the twist ending has a serious reputation among horror fans - well, I didn't really watch, because everything about it is drek: script, acting, camera, direction, editing. And the music did permanent damage to my soul. One of the worst movies I have endured, and the FF button got regular use.So a great ending, the problem being it's at the end of this production - right? Nope, and you can fcuk me sideways if you disagree. As an ending it outdoes the final flourish of Inga the chimpanzee in Argento's Phenomena: so absurd I burst out laughing. Until I stabbed myself in the eye as punishment.At least Phenomena has a radical spirit - this stuff is just dull and conservative. But I only hated every second minute of it - skipped through the other half. Damn you, horror fans!