Sleepaway Camp
Sleepaway Camp

Sleepaway Camp

1983Movie85 minEnglish

Years after a terrible boating accident, Angela is sent to Camp Arawak where a series of bizarre and violent "accidents" begin to claim the lives of various campers.

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Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes42%
Google Users70%
Director: Robert HiltzikGenres: Horror, Thriller

Plot Summary

Angela Baker, a shy and traumatized teenager, is sent to a summer camp with her cousin. As strange and gruesome accidents begin to plague the campers and staff, it becomes clear that someone is orchestrating a deadly spree. Angela, deeply affected by a tragic past, finds herself at the center of the unfolding horror.

Critical Reception

Sleepaway Camp is notorious for its shocking and controversial ending, which has become a subject of much debate and analysis within the horror genre. While initially met with mixed reviews and considered somewhat schlocky by some critics, its cult following has grown significantly over the years, largely due to its daring and boundary-pushing climax.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its surprisingly effective atmosphere and suspenseful build-up.
  • Criticized for its low budget and occasionally campy performances.
  • The film's controversial and shocking ending is its most defining and discussed element.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's memorable and disturbing finale, acknowledging its impact on the slasher genre despite its technical limitations. Many appreciate its cult status and the shock value it delivered.

Fun Fact

The film's iconic and shocking ending was achieved through a simple camera trick: the final shot of the killer is a close-up of actor Felissa Rose's face, with the actor's head superimposed onto a mannequin's body for the preceding shots where the killer is shown in full.

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TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
RottenPop

RottenPop

USA | November 18th, 1983 | ★★★½ Sleepaway Camp is an American independent horror movie from filmmaker, Robert Hiltzik. Who wrote, directed, and produced the film. It introduces a very young Felissa Rose as Angela Baker. Alongside local ...
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Adolescents at a summer camp in upstate New York… with a killer on the loose*** On the surface “Sleepaway Camp” (1983) is a clone of the first two “Friday the 13th” movies (1980/1981) mixed with elements of “Meatballs” (1979), but wit...
tmdb17996075

tmdb17996075

If there's a slasher flick that came out during the slasher fever that took place in the 80s, that succeeded in not becoming another carbon copy of "Friday the 13th", that would be "Sleepaway Camp". The movie offers all the elements feature...