We continue our 31 days of frights with the cult classic Sleepaway Camp from 1983. Shy camper Angela and her cousin Ricky are sent to summer camp, where a series of gruesome and mysterious murders begin to occur.
Sleepaway Camp is one of my favorite horror movies of all time for multiple reasons. First of all, this movie is so campy (no pun intended), and I love it. Many characters and situations are so over the top. Characters shout their lines, the violence is gratuitous, and the dialogue is so memorable. The film became a cult film due to how fun the tone is while remaining a dark mystery all the way through.
The kills are fun in this movie. They aren’t the most creative ones I have ever seen, but they are effective still, as we mostly see the aftermath. (Well, one kill is very creative, and it involves a very hot curling iron.) This is the kind of movie you can see over and over again and find something new about it to enjoy. The witty, quick dialogue and fast pacing keep the audience engaged and wanting to see what happens next.
The Characters
The characters at the end of the day make this movie. Felissa Rose plays Angela, and for not saying much, she is great in the role. Angela obviously has something going on with her, and you can’t place it. Many people can identify with her bullied nature and quiet demeanor.
Two other characters to talk about are Angela’s cousin Ricky and the mean girl named Judy. Ricky is one of the funniest characters because of how much he cares for his cousin Angela. Anytime anyone messes with her, he tries to kill them while throwing out every curse word in the book. It’s hilarious. Judy is the mean girl in the film. She literally treats everyone badly and has hate for Angela for no reason. She has one of the best lines in the movie, where she insults Angela by saying, “She’s a real carpenter’s dream: Flat as a board and needs a screw.”
This movie is everything a horror fan can want. It’s campy, it’s a good mystery, it has fun kills, a cool setting, and one of the best endings in any horror movie complete with a major plot twist. Even if you watch this one and don’t find it so special, the ending will change your mind.
Come back tomorrow for some more spooky reviews.
