So last year I finally got around to Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. I was seriously impressed and affected by that film. It was one that I had dissmissed as cheese before seeing it based on it's obscurity and low budget. It proved to me that budget and noteriety mean jack-shit as far as quality goes. Thanks to a blind buy, I was a great film richer and a little more open to try others like it. Enter Walmart. Yes the evil empire that everyone likes to hate-on. Let me explain. I went there as a last resort, looking desperately for an Xbox game(Stubbs the Zombie) that still no one seems to have released. While browsing the Electronics section I happened upon the DVD discount bin dressed with Halloween titles exclusively. Immediately I snatched up Horror of Dracula, and noticed they had some other Hammer films there, but I thought it would be too impulsive to grab any. Well I ended up making another trip because Stubbs seems to have drifted off the map as far as release dates go and those damn Hammer films for $6.00 were plaguing my mind. So I get there and notice they've added a Halloween stand with even more titles. (BY THE WAY GUYS, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS MENTIONED THIS YET, BUT THE PAUL SCHRADER VERSION OF EXCORSIST WAS THERE - sorry if that's old news, but I was stunned to see it) one of them being SLEEPAWAY CAMP. Yep, that's the one for 2005. What I thought would be a riff on Friday the 13th was actually a damn good little flick. The first thing I noticed was that the film was framed beautifully for a low budget piece. Off the bat I thought "someone from film class paid attention at least as far as cinematography goes..." as the movie progressed I realized that the story and characters were half-decent as well. There some funny moments and a generally good camp atmosphere throughout. It made me remember summer camp and how fun and sometimes, not so fun it was. But then came the last 15-20 minutes of the film. As things progress in the story, the light-hearted fun is turned to a more sinister tone and capped-off by that world famous great ending that did in fact shock the shit out of me, even though it was totally telegraphed throughout the film. Oh, well I was enjoying the funny one-liners and the antics the boys played on Mozart. This one had pretty much what one would want and crave from a slasher: great characters, interesting enough story, a "who done it" aspect, gore, laughs, decent cinematography and atmosphere. I'd go as far as giving this one an 8/10. It probably deserves a 7, but for those out there skeptical about it like I was, an 8 will hopefully get them to shell out for it. Oh yeah I forgot to mention, this one was a whopping $5.00. What are you waiting for!?!?
I had never seen this one until I heard about the survival pack with all the sleepaway camps included.I admit I was pretty skeptical about the movie,but I did end up enjoying it.The ending did shock me even though like you said,you shouldve been able to see it coming.
I don't have it either. I was put off by reading a spoiler on this site, and so keep putting off the purchase. Maybe one day. Can't believe you passed up on my beloved Hammer flicks
I've loved Sleepaway Camp for as long as I can remember although in did somewhat warp my mind and help transform me into the woma... man I am today!
