Sleepaway Camp (1983)
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A summer camp for teenagers becomes the site of a series of mysterious killings, leading to a shocking revelation about the identity of the survivor.
The story
In 1975, a boating accident leaves a young girl named Angela as the sole survivor, though she is traumatized and lives with her eccentric aunt. Eight years later, Angela and her cousin Ricky are sent to Camp Arawak. At the camp, Angela's introverted nature makes her a target for bullying by other campers and a counselor. As the summer progresses, a series of mysterious and violent incidents occur, including the deaths of several campers and staff members. While the camp owner dismisses these events as accidents, tensions rise among the campers, and the mystery of who—or what—is causing the violence begins to loom over the summer getaway.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following a tragic boating accident in 1975 where her brother was presumed dead, Angela is raised by her eccentric aunt, Dr. Martha Thomas. In 1983, Angela and her cousin Ricky attend Camp Arawak. Angela is bullied by others but finds some friends. A series of 'accidents' occur: the head cook is scalded, a camper is drowned, and another is killed by a beehive. As the mystery of the killer deepens, tensions rise between Angela and her admirer, Paul. After several more deaths, including a counselor and several children, the truth is revealed. It is discovered that the 'Angela' seen throughout the film is actually her brother, Peter. The real Angela died in the 1975 accident, and Martha raised Peter as a girl. The film ends with the revelation of Peter's true identity as he stands over Paul's body, his true nature revealed to the horrified witnesses.
- First release year
- 1983
- Runtime (minutes)
- 84
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Hiltzik
- Writers
- Robert Hiltzik · writer
- Cast and characters
- Mike Kellin · Mel Kostic; Katherine Kamhi · Meg; Paul DeAngelo · not specified; Jonathan Tiersten · not specified; Felissa Rose · Angela; Christopher Collet · Paul; Karen Fields · Judy; Desiree Gould · Aunt Martha
- Genres
- slasher; horror; thriller; mystery
- Themes
- identity; bullying; trauma; gender roles
- Tone and mood
- suspenseful; disturbing; campy
- Premise and plot tags
- slasher; twist ending; summer camp
- Franchise connections
- Sleepaway Camp
- Reception
- Initially met with unfavorable reviews for being derivative, it has since gained a cult following and critical reappraisal for its shocking twist ending.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 58 · scale: 100
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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