Sleepaway Camp (1983)

[!MorganOnyx!]

This was one of those slasher movies I just had to see. Everybody always talking about it and the 'amazing' shock ending. Bought it R1 dvd in the survival kit and just finished watching it. The booklet inside the package explained it was a surprise hit, had many fans and is generally a well loved movie. One question - HOW SHIT IS THIS FILM?!!
Gore?!! What gore?! After shots aren't good enough. I want to see the act of people being murdered, not the dead bodies afterwards. It was a case of very long drawn out dialogue, then a crappy murder, which by the way, built up no tension, held no suspense and wasn't scary at all. So it was pretty much lacking all the elements to make a successful 80's slasher. Yes, the ending was a shock and was actually quite creepy, but what a crap way to end a film. Nothing was explained, a million people were still alive. What happens to angela???!! Oh, I know lets just end the film there!! BOLLOCKS!!!

There are great slasher movies set in summer camps - FRIDAY THE 13TH and THE BURNING are two of the best! THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR A SLASHER MOVIE was a made for tv melodrama. How it is well loved is beyond me. The only thing I liked about about it was the dude from new york, and that's because he made me laugh. I hope 2 and 3 are a major improvement otherwise it will look like I've wasted my money!!

That reminds me, I'm just going to go and cry in the corner because I bought FEARDOTCOM before watching it too! When will I learn?!

[robk]

I agree that Sleepaway Camp wasn't the best, but Felissa Rose was quite cute & she's even hotter today.

[Kaos]

It's all in how you look at it. I enjoyed Sleepaway Camp for a few reasons, not the least of which is the fact that kid and teens are played by people of the correct age(no 25 year olds trying to play 16-18 year olds). Of course, that's why this a cult classic, not just a classic. It's only liked by a select group of horror fans insted of the majority of them.

[The Claw]

yep. Sleepaway camp is crap for all the reasons you mentioned. But both sequels are badass and should be watched if you ask me.

[Elgyn]

I love "Sleepaway Camp", yes of course it`s cheesy and bad, that`s WHY it has a following!

It`s much more enjoyable than "The Burning" and the original "Friday the 13th", IMO.

[Doop]

Sleepaway camp rocks.....There is not a better party film...get a group of friends together, grap something to drink, and laugh your ass off at the ending....not many films can have such an effect on people I give it a 10 out of 10!!!

[ICP RULZ]

I loved this movie. I bought the box set as well. It has some cool kills,and what do you mean by there was no gore,what about ***HIGHTLIGHT TO READ***when the chef gets the boiling water dumped on him or when the kid get stung to death by bees. I thought this movie was awsome and the ending is just pure disgusting. I never saw it coming nor did I ever truly know who the killer was.

Peace,
Matt

[pig farmer]

I think the first one is pretty damn funny. I'm not so sure it's supposed to be, but it is. The ending wasn't all shocking to me, I had an idea before it happened. Uh what else.. I like not knowing what happens to the killer, it's more interesting.

[Jason13thh]

I own this slasher and it is certainly one of my favorite slasher of all time.
Well done Mister Hiltzik !!!
I really like it because :

1. The shocking finale
2. The trio ( Ricky - Paul and Angela ) was believable
3. Gross language
4. very entertaining, never boring
5. Hiltzik has had the guts to kill real young kids ( the campire, do u remember ? )
6. I actually like the two songs used in the film
7. it was an usual slasher because of the pedophile and homosexual undertones.

[!MorganOnyx!]

You all make good points and I totally admit it was entertaining. Never did I want to turn it off, and yeah there was a tad of cool gore, like the part ICP RULES mentions! But it never scared me until the end, and that only creeped me out slightly. Where were all the stalk and slash sequences?!! The deaths were just something to laugh at, so I agree it's a beer buddy flick. But I want more from an 80's slasher. I want to laugh and be scared at the same time, or just plain scared. I HATE horror comedies - they don't work. FRIDAY THE 13th is scary, but can be amusing too. The same goes for THE BURNING and PHANTASM (my second fave movie of all time). SLEEPAWAY CAMP was just entertaining and funny, that's why I don't hold it in high regard.

The reason why I'm agreeing you guys have good points is because I watched the sequal last night. That is a plain comedy. Yes it has gore and tits, but I thought it BLEW BIG TIME! It makes me see the original in a better light.

I'm watching the 3rd one tonight. Wish me luck, but I know it will SUCK!

[The Prowler]

Hey Morgan I wonder what you thought of the 3rd one cause that is the one I have yet to see. I tend to like the same movies you do. People go on and on about how great the sequels are but they are really cheesy in a bad way. At least 2 for that matter. You are right in that there is no suspense in these and I like to watch the first one for its camp setting and thats about it. The ending kinda wears off after a couple of viewings.

Part 1--6/10
Part 2--4/10
Part 3--???

[!MorganOnyx!]

PROWLER -

Correct dude. The second one is just a slasher movie that tries to be funny. It's a nothing movie. What was the budget?!! Ten bucks for the fake blood?!! No atmosphere, no script - apart from corny one liners, no plot, no characters!!! If Anybody could honestly tell me they remembered any of the characters names apart from ANGELA and the lead girl they'd be lying.

The third one is exactly the same as the second. They were shot back to back over a six week period so it comes as no surprise. Apart from one tiny plot alteration, the new 'victims', Angela's new haircut and a funny opening death scene, you'd be hard pressed to tell the two apart. Beer buddy movies at best for any horror fan IMO!! My kind of beer buddy movies are FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 4, HALLOWEEN 2, INTRUDER, DEMONS, STAGEFRIGHT etc Generally movies that take themselves mostly seriously but have good fun doing it. We love to have a laugh at them, but we respect them because they are frightening films. (ok I know INTRUDER wasn't shit your pants scary but the atmosphere was spot on!)

[bowieee]

I LOVE this series! They are my favorite slasher movies of all time. I mean the cheese comes by the gallons and the last two are like the old Nickelodeon show Salute your shorts but with lots of nudity and Gore. The first one is the weakest one by far but the ending is an all time b movie classic! I just hate that disgusting godawfull chef.

[MisterTwister]

Sleepaway camp rules! I love the first movie, but i kinda hate the sequels. The gore is great and all but it was too goofy to be releated to the first one. People always complain about the lack of gore, usually i bitch about a film having no gore but this one had enough to please me. As for ending, it kicked ass, the most shocking endng ever filmed.

[DoctorGonzo]

I'm afraid that even for non-horror buffs like myself (and the dozens of others that Mr Scully1888 has shown Sleepaway Camp to) the film still shocks and horrifies. Therefore it fulfils the remit of a horror film, I suppose.

[thedarklamb]

I'm a Sleepaway Camp fan. Love the Survival Kit. Everytime I watch the first film, and I've seen it many times, it always screws with my mind. Sometimes I have to stop thinking..How?...What?..and just watch it for fun. Ricky's Excellent film!

Also a question for SC fans..In the scene where Judy's gonna get the hot curler treatment, who do you think is standing at the door? I paused my dvd and zoomed in, and it looks like Ricky to me. Just wondering...

[Tony Montana 83]

Sleepaway Camp was alright...never got a chance to see the other 2 or 3 made

[teenkiller]

Basically Sleepaway Camp is like the "Salute Your Shorts" of 80's horror flicks. Thats one reason I love it! The sequels are good but don't match the original. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[The Prowler]

Thanks Morgan, thats what I thought about the third one. I am not knocking the series cause I have seen worse movies but I like my slashers a little more serious. Thats just my preference. I have seen the Survivor Kit but I can't justify spending money (25-30 bucks) when I just liked the original.

BTW--Intruder does kick ass Morgan. Great gore and some well done murders. Sam Raimi's friend Scott Spiegel uses touches of Evil Dead with the inventive camera work and gore with this slasher movie.

[Heavenley]

I just saw Sleepaway Camp for the first time and I was blown away by the ending. Wow I sure didn't expect that.......what a twisted ending. Now it all made sense to me. I did rewind the movie to figure out what happened, and how all the clues in the movie added up to the shocking finale.

Very good for a slasher flick.

[teenkiller]

Unfortunately I had the ending spoiled for me on the boards so I saw it coming but it would have been great to be surprised. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Jason Voorhees]

Originally posted by teenkiller
Unfortunately I had the ending spoiled for me on the boards so I saw it coming but it would have been great to be surprised. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

Same here...

:sigh: :(.

I still enjoyed the flick, though. It was quite humorous at times, and I appreciated the gore.

[XCoRyX]

i also was spoiled of the ending,and i've still yet to see the bad boy.