After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Robert Hiltzik decided to start working on his first feature film. He decided to make a horror film since it was the cheapest to make and the easiest to sell. As a kid, Hiltzik had gone to Camp Algonquin in Argyle, NY, and thought it would be a great setting. His initial budget was $50,000, but he gained an additional $300,000 after his mother tragically died in a car accident. For the cast, he decided to cast teens aged 13-14 for the campers to add some authenticity. The movie was shot at Camp Algonquin during the off-season between September and October 1982 for five weeks. While there were a few known actors like Mike Kellin and Katherine Kamhi, everyone else would be making their debut. After a lengthy post-production phase, Sleepaway Camp had its New York premiere in November 1983.
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Synopsis
After surviving a boating accident as a child, Angela (Felissa Rose) is adopted by her Aunt Martha (Desiree Gould). She and her cousin Ricky (Jonathan Tiersten) are sent to Camp Arawak for the summer. While Ricky is very friendly and knows everyone, Angela is very introverted and never utters a word. This makes her the target of counselor Meg (Katherine Kamhi) and fellow camper Judy (Catherine Fields), who constantly torment her. To make matters worse, the head cook, Artie (Owen Hughes), almost molests Angela, only for Ricky to walk in. Shortly after, a mysterious figure knocks Artie over, causing a pot of boiling water to spill over his body. Soon, other campers wind up dead of bizarre circumstances, though the owner, Mel (Mike Kellin), wants to keep it hush-hush. Who is this mysterious killer, who will survive, and is Angela somehow connected with these murders?
Review
On the surface, Sleepaway Camp is no different from similar camp slashers like Friday the 13th or The Burning. This film stands out because of its homegrown feel, believable cast of memorable characters, and inventively unique kills. Despite not having a speaking line until the 30-minute mark, Felissa Rose is sympathetic and intense. It’s easy to feel bad for her when she’s getting picked on for seemingly no reason. But when she’s staring people down, her gaze is soul-piercing, and you know she’s up to something. Jonathan Tiersten is likable as Angela’s cousin, who’s trying to look out for her while spouting off numerous expletives. Karen Fields is another standout as the cartoonishly bitchy Judy, delivering her lines with an icy coldness. With his tiny red shorts, Paul DeAngelo is also memorable as the concerned head camp counselor. Also, Desiree Gould makes the most of her few scenes.
While the kills aren’t all that gruesome, they’re unique and unlike anything seen in other slashers. These scenes are intense, whether it’s getting stung to death by bees or having boiling water dumped on your body. The effects were done by Ed French, who later earned an Oscar nomination for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Of course, it’s hard to talk about this movie without mentioning the ending, which I won’t reveal here. That said, it’s one of the most shocking endings in film history, though Robert Hiltzik cleverly hints at the twist. If I had any complaints, a few scenes go on too long, and some of the acting is questionable. Otherwise, this highly underrated slasher film should be talked about for more than just its twist ending. Overall, Sleepaway Camp is a humble horror film with a homegrown feel, memorable characters, and decent kills.
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