Sleepaway Camp -1983

Director : Robert Hiltzik

Writer : Robert Hiltzik

Genre : Slasher Horror

RATING : R

RUNNING TIME: 88 mins

Cast : Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Katherine Kamhi, Desiree Gould

                                                      Robert Hiltzik's "Sleepaway Camp" is one of the most memorable slasher movies ever mad. The story begins with a boating accident which kills the main character Angela's father and brother. Flash forward 8 years later, the sole survivor Angela now lives with her Aunt Martha and her cousin Ricky. Angela and Ricky then go to camp and it is Angela's first time going but Rickey has been there before. Angela doesn't get along with the other campers and is very quiet. Angela is brutally teased and taunted by her fellow campers. Her cousin Ricky continuously comes to her defense, but the bullies are all being killed off by a mysterious unknown attacker. All of this leads up to an ending that I believe to be one of the most shocking in cinema history.

                 Felissa Rose is marvelous as Angela, especially with her creepy stare.and she gave an excellent performance as Angela, who makes you sympathize heavily for her, due to her soft mannered and soft spoken personality. She is very much the kid we all were, and some of you might still be. A vulnerable target for those with a superiority complex, very much the outcast.Basically all the performances are  better than usual for slasher fare of the 80's. Katherine Kamhi and Karen Fields play absolut miserable bitches, The late Mike Kellin, with his distinctive mug, is sort of an interesting character lead to be top-billed in this cast. Co-star Robert Earl Jones, a.k.a. the aged cook "Ben", is James Earl Jones's father. Rose, and Owen Hughes, as the lecherous creep "Artie", pretty much walk away with the movie.
            "Sleepaway Camp" is a little bit different than your standard slasher fare-it's filled with strange and deviant characters,disturbing flashbacks and sexual subtexts.There is only a little bit of gore,The death by curling iron was one of my favorite kills in the movie. It was pretty horrific and that  bothered my little sister so much that she had to cover her eyes when she saw it. It is qutie graphic none-the-least, we also get an arrow through the neck, severed head, a bloody stabbing So, Unlike other slashers, it does have actual characters, and writing that is more than just schematic.

This movie may be best remembered for its "shocking" final money shot, and the closing credits feature one of the creepiest theme songs that I've ever heard. Just grade "A" all american Slasher!

10 Stars