SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983)

Great outfits. Great special effects. Surprisingly coherent script and storyline considering some of the acting - actually, you know what? The acting is also divine. 10 out of 10. 

Is Sleepaway Camp actually just good? The special effects still hold up and look amazing. The storyline is easy to follow and not overcomplicated (I’m looking at you, Andy Sidaris movies). The acting is over the top but the word “camp” is literally in the title, so I can’t really argue with that. The movie follows cousins Angela (Felissa Rose) and Ricky (Jonathan Tierston) at a summer camp for teens that is being terrorized by a murderer! Angela comes to live with Ricky after the shocking death of her father and sibling in a motorboat accident (which was an incredible opening to the movie; sets the tone immediately), and her aunt/stepmom, Aunt Martha (Desiree Gould) sends them both to summer camp. I just want to see Aunt Martha exist out in the world more. Let me see this wacky bitch order a pizza. Why is she dressed like she’s Disneybounding Snow White? Speaking of outfits, more men should wear crop tops and short shorts all the time. When did we lose sight of what really matters (men’s thighs)? I think having the killer’s motive be “you were mean and now you must die” feels more fun for a slasher than the puritanical type of murdering seen in Halloween (1978). Absolutely not a dig on Halloween, mind you. But in terms of fun, which is more the tone of Sleepaway Camp, revenge on bullies is more in line with the general kooky energy of the film. I also love that it’s not a simple “slice and dice” type slasher movie. The kills feel creative, which in turn allows the special effects to shine. Because the kills are all so different, there’s never this need for “escalation of presentation” - i.e. when it’s just stabby-stabby each murder feels like it has to look more gruesome than the last because they were killed similarly. 

Let’s talk about that ending for a brief second. The reveal is insane. What a twist. But the scariest part of all of it is the soundless scream, so indicative of the inner turmoil that Angela (revealed to be Peter! The brother we thought died in the boating accident!) must have faced since the death of their family. This is again, another testament to the special effects, because the mask that they made for this scene of Felissa Rose’s face is awful in the way that means terrifying. What an ending to an already insane movie. I love it.

Food Recommendation: I tried so hard not to recommend s’mores, so let me recommend the dairy-free Lemon Bar ice cream flavor from Jeni’s. A delicious treat for a hot summer’s day. And you know what else? Jeni’s has a s’mores flavor, too, so go nuts I guess.