Written and Edited by Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Robert Hiltzik
Producer: Jerry Silva, Michele Tatosian
Screenwriter: Robert Hiltzik
Date Released: November 18, 1983
Cast:
Felissa Rose as Angela Baker
Jonathan Tiersten as Ricky Thomas
Karen Fields as Judy
Christopher Collet as Paul
Mike Kellin as Mel Costic
Katherine Kamhi as Meg
Paul DeAngelo as Ronnie Angelo
Frank Sorrentino & Colette Lee Corcoran and Archie Liberace respectively – Naked Angela.
Rating = 2.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
When Angela was a young girl, she was involved in a tragic accident with her father while they were on a boat in the lake which resulted in her father’s death. From that time on, Angela has been consistently traumatized by her past. While at summer camp with her brother, Angela appears to be very calm and reserved while her brother tries to protect her. But, during their time at summer camp, someone is going around and killing various people at the campground.
The Gore Factor
There are some scenes that involve the display of dead and rotted corpses. However, there are few, if any, blood and gore scenes in this film.
The Grave Review
Sleepaway Camp (1983) is overall not a very good movie. The acting is sub par, the story is bland, and there is nothing particularly scary about this film. Irrespective of all these horrible qualities, Sleepaway Camp has managed to develop a cult following for the franchise. Whether you are a fan of this film or not, what is worth noting is the deeper message that Sleepaway Camp sends to LGBT+ youth. Of course a film will mean different things to different people, but that is our interpretation of the film.
Beneath the outer surface of Sleepaway Camp is a message about gender identity. Towards the end of the film, we learn that Angela is actually a boy and it was her mother who changed the boy’s name to Angela. As a result, “Angela” felt confused, uncomfortable and out of place throughout the film. It doesn’t matter what Angela ultimately decided to identity as. What does matter is that she or he was not the one who made that choice. In a time when gender identity is a crucial issue in our society, Sleepaway Camp (1983) sends a message that is still relevant 30 years later.
As to the film itself, Sleepaway Camp gives you the feeling that you are, in fact, at a camp. It makes you happy that you are beyond the point of youth nonsense and onto adult nonsense. From an entertainment standpoint, Sleepaway Camp is not terrible film and portrays the classic slasher movie feel. But, , there is nothing special about the film other than that special LGBT message I had mentioned.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Sleepaway Camp (1983) two and a half graves out of five graves.
Do you agree with our review? Comment below.
You may also like our review on the film, The House on Sorority Row.
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