Sleepaway Camp (1983) is a Bizarre and Terrifying Film

Should we get the kids out of camp to prevent more murders from happening?

Sleepaway Camp became an unexpected horror classic in 1983. Angela Baker, a shy teenager attends a summer camp where she meets new friends or is tormented. During the summer, campers meet grisly fates as the counselors realize there is a killer on the loose.

Sleepaway Camp is a bizarre low-budget horror film that has left a lasting impression on the horror community. The story resembles Friday the 13th in its camp/murder premise. Although it’s not a big-budget horror film, Sleepaway Camp's shocking ending leaves viewers with several unanswered questions.

You have to see this movie when I tell you how weak and poor the acting is. Most act like they’re reading from a script and give unnatural performances. Desiree Gould (Aunt Marge) is the best example of this, sounding so corny whenever she speaks. However, that may have been intentional.

The story is set in a summer camp. You have the usual summer camp characters doing the usual kid things. The supporting cast, comprised mainly of camp counselors and fellow campers, is a mix of campy and exaggerated performances that might evoke unintentional laughter.

This was Felissa Rose’s debut and she does an excellent job. Angela's mysterious nature becomes all the more intriguing as the film progresses. At the young age of 13, Rose wasn’t allowed to see the film due to its content (which is ironic).

Although he is nice to Angela, Paul (Christopher Collet) doesn’t have the best social skills when he’s told to back off. Judy (Karen Fields) resurfaces every memory of a bully in your life that you never want to remember. Fields was the total opposite of her mean-girl persona off-screen. She felt terrible about acting mean towards Felissa Rose.

Let's talk about the film's technical aspects. Sleepaway Camp is a low-budget production, and it shows. Robert Hiltzik did his best despite the tight budgets. He actually attended the camp that was used for filming. With the way the film was shot, Sleepaway Camp resembles a home movie. He made it as authentic as possible.

Some scenes run on too long, like the baseball scene. Often, not much happens other than the kids interacting with each other or more taunting. Hiltzik managed to convey genuinely creepy scenes along with an eerie atmosphere. The kill scenes are disturbing.

The desolate, woodsy setting becomes an effective backdrop for the gruesome events that unfold, and Hiltzik's ability to build tension and suspense compensates for the film's technical limitations.

Before the film’s big reveal, I didn’t know which was scarier: a murderer or bullying. Sleepaway Camp enforces that kids are mean. Thankfully, bullying is being prevented more unlike what the kids get away with here. Reportedly, some bullying happened off-screen during the film, and crew members or actors had to step in.

The ending of Sleepaway Camp has left a lasting impression on the horror community, some of whom have reacted positively or negatively. The concept was ahead of its time. The film ends abruptly at the reveal before answering questions as to why a character committed these deadly acts.

The twist lingers in your mind long after the film ends, leaving you uncomfortable and confused. Without giving away too many spoilers, the film grapples with themes of identity and the consequences of societal norms and expectations.

It takes a bit to get into Sleepaway Camp, especially with its low-budget filmmaking and weak acting. The story is eerie and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Check out Sleepaway Camp.