Podcast

Sleepaway Camp (1983)- Movie Review- Episode 21

School’s back in session which means Summer is wrapping up.  So Brian, John, and Elaine take one last look at one of the hallmarks of summer fun; summer camp…specifically, the 1983 Friday the 13th rip off, Sleepaway Camp.  Does Sleepaway Camp belong among the Pantheon of Utter Shit or is it just a goofy fun b movie?  Grab your sleeping bag, swim shorts, and communal shower flip flops as we dive into this toasted marshmallow of B movie goodness.  

 

Movie News!

Animators Report Pay Disputes/Mistreatment During Production of Sausage Party

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

Classic 1980’s Slasher…with a Twist
  • This movie, despite being a very obvious Friday the 13th rip off uses the interesting idea of sexuality of the killer as the motivation for the murders.
  • The idea of Angela being transgendered was extremely controversial for the time.
  • This extra layer of gender confusion and reaction to homosexuality in the 80’s does make this movie stand out among other slashers
B Movie Tropes
  • God awful acting….With the exception of Aunt Martha played by Desiree Gould.
  • Fantastic practical makeup effects for a low budget film.
  • Lots and lots of misdirection of who the killer is.
  • Plot is fairly terrible….but not as bad as other slasher films.
  • Some really terrible lines of dialogue.
Total Kills
  • 2 deaths by speedboat collision
  • 1 death by scalding by boiling water
  • 1 death by drowning
  • 1 death by beehive dropped on head/stung by bees
  • 1 death by knife impalment in shower and sliced open
  • 4 deaths by being hacked apart in sleeping bag
  • 1 death by pillow smothering/ impaled through vagina with hot hair curling iron.
  • 1 death by arrow shot through throat
  • 1 death by decapitation
  • Total Kills-13
Sequels
  • Spawned 4 sequels and a rebooted sequel
  • Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers starred Bruce Springsteen’s sister, Pamela Springsteen.
  • Part II is more of a goofy murder by numbers film with more focus on elaborate deaths and less on the gender identity issues of the first film.
Final Thoughts
  • Sleepaway Camp is a very fun B movie
  • It’s focus on using transgender and homosexual themes in a traditional slasher film make it stand out among a crowded field of Friday the 13th wannabes.
  • Stick with the original, stay away from the sequels

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Sleepaway Camp (1983)- Trailer

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As indie filmmakers, we can appreciate the value of a review of your work.  Film festivals, distribution companies, sales agents, etc. all look at reviews and press that a film can get when considering picking up a film.  If you are interested in submitting your indie film for review, contact us at the links below with a digital screener of your movie and we will do what we can to feature it on a future episode of The Cinema Psychos Show.

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