Comments on: Sleepaway Camp (1983) Review

By: Sean Wallace, the Toyland Chairman

Sean Wallace, the Toyland Chairman — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:45:06 +0000

The original was decent enough, but I think the sequels are overrated. Especially 2 and 3.

By: Lou (Ducky) Defino

Lou (Ducky) Defino — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:19:07 +0000

Sleepaway camp!!!!!!!

I love the orginal movie poster / VHS cover.
The note? Cool shit…

This was a very disturbing film to watch as an 12 year old.
I always considered this one of the first low budget films I ever saw. Cause dammit it was! LOL!
Even though I really liked it (still have the orginal VHS tape) that ending with angela…the knife..and her flacid penis was a shock man. I have to say I HAD NO CLUE IT WOULD END THAT WAY! did anyone? For years after me and a group of friends would watch that and just laugh and laugh. I just didnt see it-(no pun intended)-coming Although her humming while holding his head in her lap was well shot and very creepy. Whats with humming and little kids giggling that can be so damn creepy at times!!!?
Ricky was my fav character at that time. I liked that he stood up for angela and didnt take any shit himself. Strong character.
Over al a good low budget horror film that still works till this day.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:42:19 +0000

I don’t consider Sleepaway Camp homophobic. The gay couple are basically portrayed as good, loving parents in the opening scene. Though there is a flashback of the twins giggling when they witness their father and stepfather cuddling, there is a sense that it was the tragedy itself and the parenting of weird Aunt Martha that screwed up little Angela.

Horror movies are not necessarilly homophobic. Rituals incorporates a homosexual character in a classy and unapologetic way. Adrienne Barbeau was a likable Lesbian in Someone’s Watching Me! Savage Weekend has Mother Nicky, who is good with kids and is good to have on your side in a bar fight. One of the guys in Just Before dawn was supposed to have been gay, and while it goes unsaid, it does come across in the actor’s portrayal. And let’s not forget the wild Lesbians in Torso!

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:35:01 +0000

To borrow a phrase from Christian the portrayl of sexuality in Sleepaway Camp is dubious. Im not sure if its homophobic or not. Sleepaway Camp is one of the most fascinating slashers ive seen. Ive only been posting comments here and ive enjoyed this debate over Sleepaway Camp

By: Christian Sellers

Christian Sellers — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:01:04 +0000

Surely if they spent their lives with a gay father and his lover then they would consider that normalcy. Whereas kids who were used to a straight family would be shocked to see their father with another man, if that’s the house you were brought up in the only shock would be to catch your father having sex. Which would disgust me, regardless of who he was with. I just don’t think stating that having gay parents would breed the kind of psychotic behaviour shown in Sleepaway Camp. If this was true, wouldn’t the child of every gay couple be a homicidal maniac?

By: John Klyza

John Klyza — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:22:38 +0000

The flashback (mostly the finger pointing at each other) is a good way of demonstrating Angela’s inner conflict is at which gender/identity she’s supposed to be. A thesis could really be written on the sexual under/overtones in SLEEPAWAY CAMP – it really pains me to see it written off as homophobic propaganda.

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:55:14 +0000

It depends on how long Angela and Peter have been raised by gay parents. If its what they are used to then seeing Daddy in bed with another man would be shocking but would fit with how they where brought up. One thing I would like to add is that Angela and Peter aren’t shocked or traumatised by what they see. They are laughing and giggiling as though they are watching something naughty or dirty.

By: John Klyza

John Klyza — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:14:36 +0000

I beg to differ, but only slightly. Keep in mind we’re talking a 1983 frame of mind: Kids seeing a man and woman kissing and naked in bed is still wrong, yes, however it is at least consistent with their views of normalacy as perceived through male/female union, enough that man on man would be confusing. But that was then and this is now, it’d be much harder to do the same scenes and make the same (possible) statement these days since we’re more queer-friendly – kids are being brought up to know of, and respect, diversity. But being dressed as another gender before you can make and understand the choice yourself is still gonna F you up, no matter what!

By: rusty rod

rusty rod — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:43:22 +0000

I found the Sleepaway Camp box set for $10 and was excited to finally see this. I already knew the ending from Going To Pieces. I honestly didn’t think this was that great, compared to all the other 80s slashers. I really don’t see what the fuss is, aside from the ending I thought it to be pretty bland and generic. The commentary was interesting though.

By: Christian Sellers

Christian Sellers — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:47:42 +0000

‘It doesn’t matter if its Daddy and his lover or Mommy and Daddy in the bed. Either way the kids will be confused.
How may slasher movies are tied to a traumatic experience with hetrosexuality?’

Damn good point there Jay. Sex is not an easy thing for young children to understand, regardless of whether it’s hetero or homosexual. All these other slasher villains that punish the sinful are usually viewing a heterosexual couple engaging in that kind of behaviour.

I read something once where the critic tried to compare killers such as Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees to AIDS, where they are punished for their pre-marital sexual deeds. A bit of a stretch I feel, I don’t honestly believe that these filmmakers read too far into the subtext when they are creating these killers. Surely they are only seeing as far as the dollar sign!