The Sleepaway Camp film series is quite an odd one to say the least. Starting off with the beautiful train wreck that was Sleepaway Camp in 1983, the films got weirder and weirder, spawning three more sequels and a big cult following. I personally love all of the movies in the series, because they are odd, funny, scary, gory, and not just your average Friday the 13th knock off. I'm not going to rank these films, but I will list them all and give a review for each. Spoilers are pretty much unavoidable in this piece, so read at your own risk.
Sleepaway Camp (1983):
This movie is a very hard movie to review, because it is really quite bad. The reason it's hard to review though, is because I liked it way more than I should have. This movie was made in the slasher boom of the early 80's on a clearly very small budget. On paper it's just another run of the mill slasher, but it is so much more. With a truly strange story, generic yet memorable characters, some awesome kills, and an extremely shocking ending that is still remembered to this day, this film really is one of a kind. Felissa Rose is pretty solid as Angela, the shy protagonist we follow throughout the film who plays a very big role in the end. The acting, script, and pacing are generally awful, but these elements bring a strange charm to the flick that makes it highly enjoyable. The gore is pretty solid as well, and includes stabbings, boiling faces, curling irons inserted into, well, you get the point, and decapitation. But what really sells this movie is the ending. I won't spoil it, but it's one of the most bizarre, creepy, funny, and surprising endings I've ever seen. And it was very ballsy (bad, bad pun intended). A so bad it's great movie to kick off the series.
Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers (1988):
This sequel rocks, in more ways than one. Years after the events of the first film, a new camp called Camp Rolling Hills is up and running with the one and only Angela aka The Angel of Death working as a counselor. Instead of Felissa Rose returning as the infamous killer, Pamela Springsteen took over. She does an amazing job, bringing welcomed humor and spunk to the role. This movie is much more self aware and funny compared to the first, but that's why it works. It's often hilarious and scary at some points as well. The kills are amazing and top the original in every way. The only thing this one doesn't have going for it is a shock ending, but that's a minor complaint. The plot involving Angela "sending people home" after they've dome something bad (sex, drugs, or just being really mean or annoying) is very clever and funny. The acting and pacing are improved this time around and make this sequel more than worth while to watch. Oh, and when I say it rocks, it's not just because of the kills and solid acting, it's also for the soundtrack featuring the likes of Anvil and Hurricane. A totally 80's slasher with a kick ass heavy metal soundtrack, what more can you ask for?
Sleepaway Camp 3: Teenage Wasteland (1989):
A lot of people didn't like this one but I thought it was just as good as the two that came before it. After being fired as a counselor in the second movie, Angela (after an amazing opening scene) finds a way to become a camper at a camp called Camp New Horizons. She then does what she does best, taking care of business killing off bad kids sinning deep within the woods. The kills are highly inventive (like the flag pole kill), but never come quite close enough to be better than the ones in parts 1 and 2. Springsteen returns as Angela and like the second movie, she steals every scene she's in. The plot, again, is tight and flows very nicely combining horror and comedy effortlessly. I really enjoyed this movie, and I'm also really glad they didn't kill of Angela at the end. She's just too cool to die! Another great soundtrack is included, making the movie all the more awesome. All in all, a great entry in the series.
Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008):
Over 20 years after the first Sleepaway Camp was released, the original writer/director Robert Hiltzik returns at the helm of this sequel. Proposed as a direct sequel to the first movie, it completely ignores the events of 2 & 3, which would have pissed me off, but they made the great decision to bring back Felissa Rose as the infamous Angela. Unfortunately, that, and the kills are the only things this movie has going for it. The main character named Alan is one of the most unlikable and annoying characters I've ever come across in a horror movie. He's supposed to be the victim, but he is mean and kind of brings all of the bullying on himself. Also, the film is very slow in the middle. There are a couple really good kills at the beginning, and then A LOT of nothingness, and then a pretty good, blood soaked ending. Having said all that, the kills really are pretty sweet. One in particular involving a sharpened broomstick is spectacular. The effects are very well done and almost saved this movie for me. The ending is superb and the final shot brought back the creepy feeling of the original movie's ending. Oddly enough this is a lot like the original because, in the case of both films, if you can get past the awful acting, bad pacing, and horrid script, there are solid kills and an amazing ending. A fitting end(?) to this slasher series.
Sleepaway Camp 4: The Survivor (N/A):
I feel like I need to mention this one even though it's not, and never will be, a part of the series. This movie started filming in the early 90's and production was stopped, and never started back up again. The 30 some odd minutes of surviving production footage can be viewed most likely online, and is also available as a bonus disc in the Sleepaway Camp Survival Kit box set from Anchor Bay. I personally haven't watched it, as it is unfinished and no gore is included. But nonetheless, it's still an interesting part of the history of this series.
The Sleepaway Camp franchise is very enjoyable and highly underrated if you ask me. All of the films have something going for them and they are all, without a doubt, worth watching. I personally like the second and third film over the first and fourth only because I favor Springsteen's Angela to Rose's if only by a little. This is a great series and deserves a bigger following. An absolute mandatory view for any slasher fan. All four films come highly recommended from yours truly. And remember, Oh I'm a happy camper, I love the clear blue sky! And with the grace of God, I'll camp until i die.
Sleepaway Camp (1983):
This movie is a very hard movie to review, because it is really quite bad. The reason it's hard to review though, is because I liked it way more than I should have. This movie was made in the slasher boom of the early 80's on a clearly very small budget. On paper it's just another run of the mill slasher, but it is so much more. With a truly strange story, generic yet memorable characters, some awesome kills, and an extremely shocking ending that is still remembered to this day, this film really is one of a kind. Felissa Rose is pretty solid as Angela, the shy protagonist we follow throughout the film who plays a very big role in the end. The acting, script, and pacing are generally awful, but these elements bring a strange charm to the flick that makes it highly enjoyable. The gore is pretty solid as well, and includes stabbings, boiling faces, curling irons inserted into, well, you get the point, and decapitation. But what really sells this movie is the ending. I won't spoil it, but it's one of the most bizarre, creepy, funny, and surprising endings I've ever seen. And it was very ballsy (bad, bad pun intended). A so bad it's great movie to kick off the series.
Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers (1988):
This sequel rocks, in more ways than one. Years after the events of the first film, a new camp called Camp Rolling Hills is up and running with the one and only Angela aka The Angel of Death working as a counselor. Instead of Felissa Rose returning as the infamous killer, Pamela Springsteen took over. She does an amazing job, bringing welcomed humor and spunk to the role. This movie is much more self aware and funny compared to the first, but that's why it works. It's often hilarious and scary at some points as well. The kills are amazing and top the original in every way. The only thing this one doesn't have going for it is a shock ending, but that's a minor complaint. The plot involving Angela "sending people home" after they've dome something bad (sex, drugs, or just being really mean or annoying) is very clever and funny. The acting and pacing are improved this time around and make this sequel more than worth while to watch. Oh, and when I say it rocks, it's not just because of the kills and solid acting, it's also for the soundtrack featuring the likes of Anvil and Hurricane. A totally 80's slasher with a kick ass heavy metal soundtrack, what more can you ask for?
Sleepaway Camp 3: Teenage Wasteland (1989):
A lot of people didn't like this one but I thought it was just as good as the two that came before it. After being fired as a counselor in the second movie, Angela (after an amazing opening scene) finds a way to become a camper at a camp called Camp New Horizons. She then does what she does best, taking care of business killing off bad kids sinning deep within the woods. The kills are highly inventive (like the flag pole kill), but never come quite close enough to be better than the ones in parts 1 and 2. Springsteen returns as Angela and like the second movie, she steals every scene she's in. The plot, again, is tight and flows very nicely combining horror and comedy effortlessly. I really enjoyed this movie, and I'm also really glad they didn't kill of Angela at the end. She's just too cool to die! Another great soundtrack is included, making the movie all the more awesome. All in all, a great entry in the series.
Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008):
Over 20 years after the first Sleepaway Camp was released, the original writer/director Robert Hiltzik returns at the helm of this sequel. Proposed as a direct sequel to the first movie, it completely ignores the events of 2 & 3, which would have pissed me off, but they made the great decision to bring back Felissa Rose as the infamous Angela. Unfortunately, that, and the kills are the only things this movie has going for it. The main character named Alan is one of the most unlikable and annoying characters I've ever come across in a horror movie. He's supposed to be the victim, but he is mean and kind of brings all of the bullying on himself. Also, the film is very slow in the middle. There are a couple really good kills at the beginning, and then A LOT of nothingness, and then a pretty good, blood soaked ending. Having said all that, the kills really are pretty sweet. One in particular involving a sharpened broomstick is spectacular. The effects are very well done and almost saved this movie for me. The ending is superb and the final shot brought back the creepy feeling of the original movie's ending. Oddly enough this is a lot like the original because, in the case of both films, if you can get past the awful acting, bad pacing, and horrid script, there are solid kills and an amazing ending. A fitting end(?) to this slasher series.
Sleepaway Camp 4: The Survivor (N/A):
I feel like I need to mention this one even though it's not, and never will be, a part of the series. This movie started filming in the early 90's and production was stopped, and never started back up again. The 30 some odd minutes of surviving production footage can be viewed most likely online, and is also available as a bonus disc in the Sleepaway Camp Survival Kit box set from Anchor Bay. I personally haven't watched it, as it is unfinished and no gore is included. But nonetheless, it's still an interesting part of the history of this series.
The Sleepaway Camp franchise is very enjoyable and highly underrated if you ask me. All of the films have something going for them and they are all, without a doubt, worth watching. I personally like the second and third film over the first and fourth only because I favor Springsteen's Angela to Rose's if only by a little. This is a great series and deserves a bigger following. An absolute mandatory view for any slasher fan. All four films come highly recommended from yours truly. And remember, Oh I'm a happy camper, I love the clear blue sky! And with the grace of God, I'll camp until i die.
