REVIEW: Sleepaway Camp

Sleepaway Camp is one of those movies that, despite being considered by many to be required viewing for the horror genre, I had never gotten around to actually seeing. While I'm far from a horror expert, I've seen most of the classics; from iconic masterpieces like Jaws and Alien to indie darlings like Trick R Treat to bona-fide pieces of history like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. And yet Sleepaway Camp, a supposed classic that had slipped under my radar for all this time.

It's a simple enough premise, so quaint it almost borders on parody when viewed through a modern lens. The film focuses on Angela (Felissa Rose), a young girl, traumatized as a child following a horrible boating accident that left her orphaned. Now living under the care of her eccentric aunt, she and her cousin, Ricky (Johnathan Tiersten), are sent away to Camp Arawak for a summer of fun and excitement; unfortunately for the campers, there happens to be a killer in their midst. As the summer goes on, the bodies continue to pile up while everyone (including the viewer) tries to decipher who could possibly be behind it all.

With a plot like that, one might wonder just why Sleepaway Camp is considered such an essential cult classic; "80's summer camp" isn't exactly a standout backdrop for a slasher flick, especially when compared to the Friday the 13th series. What is it about Sleepaway Camp that makes it stand the test of time? There's an objective answer to this question; the ending. But I'll get to that later, in a timely (and spoiler-free) fashion. Aside from the obvious reason, it's honestly just a really fun watch. As would be expected from something in this particular wheelhouse, there's loads of unintentionally hilarious moments. From the jock who dies via bee attack while on the toilet, to the camp director who just wants to keep everything hush-hush, to the gaggle of guys who are maybe a little too enthusiastic to go skinny-dipping, there's a lot to laugh at in this movie. That said, these moments rarely feel jarring in tone; this is a horror movie that knows how to have fun with itself when appropriate. However, for all the cheesy gags and delightful 80's throwbacks, the climax of this film ratchets the tension up to eleven, delivering one of the most shocking, haunting endings to any film I've ever seen.

Again, no spoilers, but the ending of Sleepaway Camp is what makes this movie. The entire film proposes a mystery to both the characters and the audience; who is committing these murders? I went into this film knowing there was some sort of twist at the end, and as such I kept my eyes peeled for any clues that might be found. Truthfully, watching this movie knowing that there's a big reveal at the end enhances the entire thing. Every stray object becomes a potential murder weapon, every flare of adolescent aggression becomes a potential motive, every single character becomes a potential suspect. Before watching Sleepaway Camp, I had heard how apparently the ending was one of the most shocking in all of horror cinema, how it was truly disturbing, resonating with viewers to this day. Really though, how bad could it be? What could this quaint, goofy little low-budget slasher flick from the 80's possibly show me, a jaded child of the 90's, that could qualify as "disturbing"? What could this movie possibly do to "shock" me, in an age where The Human Centipede is a household name? Ladies and gentlemen, I under-estimated this movie and paid the price for it. I make no exaggeration when I say the ending of Sleepaway Camp is the most haunting piece of film I have ever seen. I don't want to over-sell it, and honestly the less I say, the better. But I know for sure that on repeat viewings, I'll be watching through my fingers.

For all my praise, I must implore you to go into Sleepaway Camp with modest expectations. There's a few strong performances and some nice camerawork and composition here and there, but it's for the most part a pretty generic film. It's a slasher movie about a killer at a summer camp, so there's only so much you can expect of it, but that doesn't change that half the scenes in this feel like lost footage from Wet Hot American Summer. It's goofy and corny, but it's built around a pretty compelling mystery which leads to one hell of a payoff. It's important to keep things in perspective while watching this one; don't expect too much, don't overthink it. If you set the bar too high, the entire thing will fall flat. But if you adjust your expectations appropriately, sit back, and let the movie do its work, it'll blow you away as it did me.