|
|
Post by CT on Jun 15, 2007 9:35:44 GMT -5
 (1983) Directed by Robert HiltzikWelcome to Camp Arawak, where teenage boys and girls learn to experience the joys of nature, as well as each other. But when these happy campers begin to die in a series of horrible 'accidents', they discover that someone - or something - has turned their summer of fun into a vacation to dismember. Has a dark secret returned from the camp's past…or will an unspeakable horror end the season forever?Rate this movie one a scale of 0 - 5 stars. (5 being the 'best'!)  |
|
Canetoad
The Prodigal Toad 
HMaM member of the Month, July 2006
Cry Havoc! And let slip the cats of war.
Posts: 2,868
|
Post by Canetoad on Jun 18, 2007 8:33:13 GMT -5
I have never seen this series. Is is worth grabbing that cheapie (and gimmicky) box set on offer at the moment... and if so is it uncut?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jen on Jun 19, 2007 11:31:13 GMT -5
I have never seen this series. Is is worth grabbing that cheapie (and gimmicky) box set on offer at the moment... and if so is it uncut? I think these films are great fun myself, they are definitely cheesy, not very good quality. I have to say, they made me laugh more than they scared me. Some good death scenes though, and a good ending. If you don't know anything about the movies, DON'T read the back of the box set before you watch it......I made that mistake.....  I borrowed my cousin's Sleepaway Camp Survival Kit, and it was uncut as far as I know. Anyway, I give this one a 3. |
|
|
|
Post by GL on Jun 21, 2007 10:15:16 GMT -5
“Sleepaway Camp” is one of the best early 80s camp-slasher films.
**SPOILERS**
Arriving at a summer camp, Angela Baker (Felissa Rose) and her cousin Ricky (Jonathan Tiersten) immediately rub the head counselor Meg (Katharine Kamhi) by how different and quiet she is. Ronnie (Paul DeAngelo) and Susie (Susan Glaze) take time to break her out of her shell, but Ricky is protective of her and doesn’t want her to be exposed to too much. As people start dying at camp, Mel, (Mike Kellin) the head of the camp, keeps insisting that it’s just fluke accidents. As Angela finally comes out of her shell around Paul, (Christopher Collet) the murders around camp start increasing. As everyone starts to suspect the new-comers Angela and Ricky as the killer, the camp tries to stop the killer from striking again.
The Good News: Well, first off, this has one of, if the not the, best ending to a horror film ever. It comes so far from left field and is so unexpected that no one would ever believe it. It’s also really original to end it that way, as all the clues point elsewhere, then we get dropped with the bombshell of all bombshells with the ending that comes out of nowhere, and it does seem completely shocking on first viewing. By pulling the rug out of our feet with a complete turn-around is a wonderful in it’s execution. I can’t say enough about the great ending, go see it for yourself. Also nice was the way that all the deaths aren’t exactly the typical deaths for this type of movie. Granted, there is an impalement with an knife and a decapitation, but the rest of the film features some great kills, including being stung to death by bees,, scalded with boiling water, and a pretty nasty one involving a curling iron and a special part of the female anatomy. That’s all I’m going to say on that one. Pretty nifty kills, although some have been done before. It’s also pretty good at setting up the storyline to make the characters so believable. Angela is a quiet, shy teenage girl, and Ricky her protective cousin. While not exactly new, the combination of both is a nice addition to the rest of the characters at camp. Pretty much stereotypical characters, but all mixed together with some new ones.
The Bad News: For the time this came out, it should’ve been way more graphic. This one is very dry and features next to no blood. Only two deaths happen on-screen as well, which is a shame as several would’ve been nice to see what happened to them. However, more gore was needed to make the film a little more entertaining, but it still is fine right now. Just more. Also, since the sequels went for a more campy approach, this one goes more of a serious route. It’s very discerning to see Angela played her as a shy, quiet type and as a wise-cracking woman in the sequels.
The Final Verdict: With one of cinema’s greatest endings that is really shocking and a big body count for the time, this is a very underrated film. Fans of the time frame will eat this one up, but fans of the sequels may find it odd that there is none of the goofy sense of humor apparent in this film.
Rated R: Graphic Language, Violence, and full male Nudity
|
|
|
|
Post by GP on Jul 9, 2007 18:25:22 GMT -5
Just watched this for the first time, most entertaining. I can watch almost anything with this many bad mullets and unfeasibly gaily dressed teenage troublecausers. I'd totally forgotten about cut off t-shirts! How sh*t were they? If I ever got bullied by such an effeminate gang of hairsprayed turds I'd kill myself!
Brilliant!
Got it off DVDpacific along with the second installment and have just ordered the third, all R1 Anchor Bay edtions which are uncut and include commentary tracks. Cheap too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jen on Jul 9, 2007 18:33:22 GMT -5
Just watched this for the first time, most entertaining. I can watch almost anything with this many bad mullets and unfeasibly gaily dressed teenage troublecausers. I'd totally forgotten about cut off t-shirts! How sh*t were they? If I ever got bullied by such an effeminate gang of hairsprayed turds I'd kill myself! Brilliant! LMAO......gotta love the cut off shirts....ahhh....the '80s....it was a wonderful time....  |
|
|
|
Post by GL on Jul 10, 2007 10:17:05 GMT -5
Yeah, too bad I came into the scene too late. I've seen the fashions my dad used to wear.
|
|
|
|
Post by slasher on Dec 19, 2007 16:04:13 GMT -5
i love this series, u just can't take it serious though. the first one is almost a classic in my eyes, the ending is amazing, tripped me right out, lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by GP on Dec 19, 2007 19:27:26 GMT -5
Yeah me too. While not the greatest quality movie that bizarre reveal at the end is freaky and memorable.
The sequels are amusing to a point but but I don't think I'd ever watch them again.
|
|
|
|
Post by CK on Dec 20, 2007 7:22:00 GMT -5
The box set I have is the one that the Red Cross complained about and they took it offthe market, wonder if it might be worth anything?  |
|
|
|
Post by GL on Dec 20, 2007 11:00:57 GMT -5
CK, try to keep that in as good a condition as possible. A friend on another forum got that version off the internet for about $100, even though it wasn't in the best of shape (torn poster sleeves, the disc for part 3 was broken off and it slid around in the DVD case and one of the tips to the big container was slightly bent) and he has heard of prices for these in good to excellent condition going for about $300-400 in some places.
|
|
|
|
Post by CK on Dec 20, 2007 12:19:19 GMT -5
Mine is about in really good condition, I might put it away and get the new version to watch.
|
|
|
|
Post by GL on Dec 21, 2007 11:27:34 GMT -5
Smart thinking. That one could earn you a pretty penny if you decide to sell it while in good condition.
|
|
Canetoad
The Prodigal Toad
HMaM member of the Month, July 2006
Cry Havoc! And let slip the cats of war.
Posts: 2,868
|
Post by Canetoad on Dec 22, 2007 20:13:52 GMT -5
Finally caught up with this and enjoyed it immensely - so much so a I bought cheapie copies of the next 2
|
|
|
|
Post by GL on Dec 23, 2007 11:23:24 GMT -5
I personally like part 2 the most of the series. Cheesy to the point of it being a crime, gratuitous nudity, spectacular kills and a just overall fun atmosphere. You'll like that one, while part 3 does it the exact same way without as much of the fun. You'll still like it, but part 2 is the one you'll get the most out of.
|
|
HMaM Global Mod
HMaM Global Mod
Custodian of the Keep
Corpsekiller
