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Sleepaway Camp (1983) - Robert Hiltzik



Really good horror movies need to leave an impression on you. Sleepaway Camp is definitely the type of movie that leaves it's mark. While being infamous for it's graphic ending. It's also a quintessential eighties horror film that captures the time in the style and fashion. It encompasses that summer camp style that was really popular during this time. It actually captures the camp feeling a whole lot better than most Friday the 13th films. 

Angela Baker and her cousin Ricky attend Summer Camp. Ricky had been coming for a while, but this was Angela's first time. Needless to say, the adjustment doesn't go very well. The camp is full of creeps, assholes and jerkbags. And someone is running around trying to kill them all! This really doesn't help things for Angela. 

This movie isn't afraid to go places that other movies don't. It explores all sorts of themes from gender bending to child molestation, while simultaneously being an entertaining summer camp comedy. The characters are all exaggerations with strokes of realism. The dialogue can be hokey at some points but really realistic at others. The fighting and bickering between campers is really great. It makes for an entertaining feature. 

This is a great slasher flick. Some of the characters that bite it really deserve it. The cook has my favorite incident. He's a real piece of shit that gets his comeuppance really well. The ending is the kind of finale that you never forget. Believe that. 

Sleepaway Camp isn't going to be for everyone. It's highly offensive to just about any yuppie or parent. However, it has a lot of great qualities that make it memorable. It's a great movie for more adult themed Halloween parties and isn't really for the youngins. If you liked this movie then I would suggest Wet Hot American Summer and Friday the 13th. Both are classics from two different genres. Both fit around this movie perfectly. 

Director: Robert Hiltzik
Producer: Jerry Silva and Michele Tatosian
Writer: Robert Hiltzik
Starring Mike Kellin, Katherine Kamhi, Paul DeAngelo, Jonathan Tiersten and Felissa Rose
Studio: American Eagle Films
Release Date: November 18, 1983
Country: United States
Did ya know: Jane Krakowski was originally cast to play Judy.











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