Classic Review: Sleepaway Camp (1983)

A film that leaves viewers with so many more questions than answers, Sleepaway Camp is a perplexing horror movie that is the epitome of a cult classic. Writer/director Robert Hiltzik’s sole directorial effort is sure to leave audiences bewildered from the opening scene all the way to the infamous ending.

Sleepaway Camp tells the story of Ricky (Tiersten) and Angela (Rose), two cousins who attend Camp Arawak for the summer. Shy and reserved, Angela soon becomes the subject of bullying and ridicule because of her reluctance to speak up and join camp activities. Soon enough a string of violent murders shakes the camp and have campers and counsellors alike fearing for their lives.

From the very beginning with its B-roll footage of an average camp with overly dramatic music Sleepaway Camp establishes its tone as a cheesy horror movie and it delivers in every sense imaginable. As horrifying as the death scenes would be to experience in real life, the melodramatic way they’re executed is guaranteed to have audiences laughing more than screaming. Pair that with ridiculous camerawork and flummoxing dialogue and the result is a film that succeeds far more as a comedy than it does as a horror. Devoid of subtlety and absolutely bonkers, comedic directors only wish they could make films that induce such hilarious laughter as this does.

As amateur and bewildering as the actual filmmaking of Sleepaway Camp is, there are certainly worse, far fewer entertaining offerings out there. While it is certainly no masterpiece nor is it particularly terrifying, the mystery of who is behind these killings and what’s going on with Angela is actually quite engaging. The horror and the death scenes are awesome even if the rest of the film is just kind of “meh.” Meanwhile, the special effects makeup however is pretty fantastic. For 1983, there is some surprisingly well done and effective makeup work done on each of the murder victims. Inventive as well. There are some truly haunting and terrifying visuals that are likely to stick with audiences long after watching. Like that final blood-soaked, snarling, wide-eyed image of the killer. As fleeting as it is, kudos to Sleepaway Camp for delivering the film’s most frightening image at the perfect moment.

A cult classic that is well worth the challenge of finding a way to view it, Sleepaway Camp is a wild ride of a B-horror movie. Actually, given the low quality, it’s much more of a C or D-horror movie. As mediocre and baffling as it is, there’s no denying that it is an experience that will have audiences launching into deep conversation as soon as the credits begin to roll. There is so much to unpack with this inherently wacky film.

Perhaps a viewing of one of its five sequels could shed some light on the whirlwind of bizarre story elements in this camp classic. Doubtful, but a marathon of all six increasingly terrible films definitely sounds like a pretty fun way to spend a summer night.

still courtesy of United Film Distribution Company

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Luke Elisio

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