Welcome to Camp Arawak, where teenage boys and girls learn to experience the joys of nature, as well as each other. But when these happy campters begin to die in a series of horrible accidents, they discover that someone, ... more »or something, has turned this summer of fun into a vacation to dismember.« less
Rodney P. from BEAUMONT, TX Reviewed on 7/20/2013...
great horror films are great when they can take something that is done to death: in this case slasher movie and create something different and memorable.In this case the director, has taken the hokiest horror movie cliche, mad killer at the summer camp and created a horror classic! Ricky and his very quiet cousin Angela
decide to go to summer Camp and soon regret it as the kids there are targeted by a brutal killer! The director,Robert Hiltzik has created a low-budget nasty little shocker that explores the themes of homosexuality child abuse and abnormal behavior.Now stir in some gruesome murders, and last but not least unforgettable ending and you recipe for horror classic guarantee to chill the blood! The ending alone is worth price of admission because spotting the killer isn't that hard but the killer's secret(Oh boy what a secret is it)is what makes the film so memorable.This film also is quite controversial because most of the victims are preteens and the methods of their demise isn't for the squemish.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Caroline W. (GamerMommy) from N LAS VEGAS, NV Reviewed on 5/19/2012...
I have the Box Set Sleepaway Camp Trilogy, and I LOVE every single movie. The first one will always be my favorite. If you're a fan of 70's-80's Slasher flicks (especially those with a camping theme), you MUST check these out! I will hang onto these DVDs forever. :)
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Vanessa V. (sevenspiders) Reviewed on 10/31/2008...
How had I not heard of this movie sooner? This is a slasher film that belongs, at the very least, in the pantheon of slasher-movie gems. If, like me, you find all slasher movies slightly ridiculous, especially those from the '80s, but love them anyway, you must see Sleepaway Camp.
Slashers are generally not excercises in restrained and pyscholgically building terror, but they can be great slice-and-dice fun and offer some genuine jump-out-of-the-skin moments. Sleepaway Camp does all these things. If you can get past the bad acting and corny dialogue, the movie is tremendous fun as campers and staff alike get picked off one by one. The movie is only 82 minutes long, so the bad acting & writing don't tax the nerves for too long. The situation is stock and the characters are pure slasher archetypes, but it works.
And the ending- by all that is holy- the ending is one for the ages. Just when you think Sleepaway Camp is an endearingly predictable Friday-the-13th knock-off comes a twist of unprecedented creepiness. And the with a closing shot that shocks the mind and sticks with you after the credits roll and you're safe in bed with the covers tucked up to your chin, Sleepaway Camp crowns its standard-slasher good times with a Freudian nightmare big-reveal that, dare I say, elevates the material?
4 of 5 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Summer Camp Horror...With A Twist!
matts1979@webtv.net | Leominster, MA | 04/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sleepaway Camp is first and foremost, another summer camp slasher film. A very popular slasher subgenre originated with the 1980 classic Friday the 13th. Angela and Ricky are young teenagers off to camp Arawak for the summer, Ricky the likable popular type, and Angela, the quiet and 'different' type. When all kinds of scuzzy camp regulars begin to give Angela a hard time, they start dying rather brutally...much to the dismay of the camp's burnt out owner Mel (Mike Kellin). Sleepaway Camp is a slasher film, however, it goes a bit deeper than that, what gives Sleepaway Camp its distinction, is the bizarre homosexual themes running throughout the film. Why they are there are anybody's guess,but from the strange transvestite (?) Aunt Martha, to Angela's gay father, the truly shocking and disturbing final shot and more, Sleepaway Camp is sick, grisily, twisted, yet always fascinating. Of course, its not always great, many scenes in this film are just laughable, like the melodramatic boating accident at the film's start, or the character that wears a shirt with her name on it, and even the scenes with Chef Artie, the local camp sleazeball. Sleepaway Camp however, always manages to be charming, despite its warped themes and lurid subject matter, this one certainly isn't for everybody, but those with a taste for something not quite the norm will find much to savor here with Sleepaway Camp, a truly strange film that stands in a tired subgenre, but stands out as a unique achievement-even if partially a fluke."
Full version of the film!
Corinne Tandy | Knoxville,TN USA | 07/10/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is the fully uncut version of the film! The Anchor Bay dvd has a few slight cuts to some of the death scenes. The picture and sound on this version are that of an old vhs but still watchable. If you have the box set get this one too just so you can see what has been cut from the Anchor Bay version. You cant beat a dvd for $5!"
Sleepaway Camp finally on DVD!
C. Lockwood | 04/29/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Finally, the b-movie/horror flick, Sleepaway Camp is being released to DVD. It's nearly impossible to find on VHS (the original and both sequels are currently out of print!). Its a good thing this movie is getting the recognition it deserves because the story is so unique (with the bizarre aunt) and surprising (the final scene in which "Angela"'s true self is revealed). Hopefully, Anchor Bay will give this film a good DVD transfer (who can forget the garbage they gave us for the non-collector's edition of Halloween), and hopefully they'll have a new 5.1 soundtrack and anamorphic widescreen. What about Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers? Or Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland? All the films in the series need the DVD treatment, right? I'm still waiting for April Fools Day or Mothers Day."
If you're not going to Camp Crystal Lake, why not give Camp
C. Lockwood | Western, NY | 08/15/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Who knew that there was a good 80's slasher film that I somehow over looked. I really do miss that genre of movies, and I was ecstatic to see in all the pile of mixed baggage there was one that came out on top. Even though this had a lot of the same qualities as all of the other slasher films ( Friday The 13th in particular) Sleepaway Camp still brings you enough originality and twists to make it an instant classic.
After surviving a horrific accident 8 years prior Angela is forced to live with her crazy Aunt Martha and cousin Ricki. Ricki and Angela are persuaded by Angelas aunt to go on a vacation at camp Arawak. Angela is a very quiet girl that makes all of the other teenagers at the camp uncomfortable, which in return makes her the object of everyones taunting. Ricki tries to stick up for his cousin, but it seems he is always too late to do anything helpful. After a few people end up dying the individuals at Camp Arawak are all suspects and victims at the same time.
Never did the film become dull nor was it over the top exciting edge of your seat thrills. The film is not overly gory, but does not take away from the greatness. There is some descent acting, and if you are familiar with slasher movies you will understand the rareness of good acting in that genre. I know there are a lot of other reviewers that have raved about the very twisted ending, I agree with all of them. I will admit that the finale is one of the very top finales in a horror movie ever. It had me sleeping with my lights on that evening, and like I stated in a another review, I am a very hard person to scare. The last image of this cinematic adventure will be forever implanted in my brain. If you go into this film blind you will be nothing less of blown away, just by the ending alone."