Welcome back boys and ghouls to the Tubi Terror at the Drive-in. This time around we will be looking at death coming to summer camp. Summer camp can be a yearly tradition for many kids. The worst they may have to worry about is being homesick, the weather, fleeting summer romance, being bullied and more. But the horror genre said “Nope!” and turned it all on its head by introducing a certain hockey-masked killer that had a vendetta against sex, drugs and alcohol.
As time went on, it would evolve in different creative ways to put fear in summer campers, much to horror fans’ excitement. The movies that we found in the Tubi vault for tonight are Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers (1988), Summer Camp (2015) and Final Summer (2023).
Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Camper
“Angela . . . You’re Angela Baker, the Angel of Death. I should have called you Peter.” — Sean (Tony Higgins)
In November 1983, we were introduced to Angela Baker, a teenage serial killer with a secret that comes full-frontal at the end of the movie to the audience. It would face some backlash for being a clone of Friday 13th. With a budget of $335,000, and it earned $11 million in box office returns. The abundant returns inspired co-producer of the first film, Jerry Silva, to approach Double Helix films about making the sequel.
They greenlit the sequel plus a third film to be shot back to back with a million dollar budget to be used for both productions. Felissa Rose would not return to the franchise due to the rumor she was going to University in New York, which led to a recast with Pamela Springsteen, the sister of Bruce Springsteen; however, Pamela would not be the only famous sibling on set. Renee Estvez, the daughter of Martin Sheen and the sister of Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez would play camper Molly.
The story picked up five years after the first one. Around the campfire, campers tell the story of Angela Baker and the events of the first film. The audience is also given a small shred of information about how Angela was institutionalized and had gender reassignment surgery. Little do the campers know that the girls’ counselor at the camp is Angela herself.
As the girls at the camp start to act up and cause normal camp shenanigans, Angela sees it as naughty behavior, and they are sent home one by one as she tells Uncle John (Walter Gotell), the owner. In reality, they are being killed in different creative ways, resulting in the dwindling population of the camp having a final face-off with Angela as the body count rises.
This movie represents the camp atmosphere so well. The dining hall scenes, the camp song, the cabins, activities and the pranks. The character of Angela in this one is very likable but dark. One of the better portrayals of Angela in the franchise. She is most brutal with her murders, especially the death in the outhouse. Just a savage kill in the franchise. Her presence at the camp brings death to all that is naughty.
Summer Camp (2015)
“It’s just not what I was expecting. Where are the cabins and canoes?” -Christy (Jocelin Donahue)
Summer Camp (2015) movie was a joint production between Spain and the United States. Besides having some scenes shot in the studio, they filmed primarily on location in Catalonia, Spain. The director and writer Alberto Marini was also co-executive on the Rec franchise up to the third one. This made him a good choice to write and direct since he had experience working with characters dealing with a rage virus zombie-possessed situation. Many of those themes are touched upon again within this movie. The movie was released to mixed reviews—not great but not horrible. It was praised for its strong start with a bit of let down in the middle.
The movie revolves around four American camp counselors: Christy (Jocelin Donahue), Will (Diego Boneta), Michelle (Maiara Walsh) and Antonio (Andres Velencoso). They work at a camp called El Buho English Immersion Camp in the wilderness of Spain.
As they work to get the camp ready for the campers and to also get to know each other, they are faced with different challenges, such as creepy squatters, a broken water well, possible dogs with rabies, and the rage virus. These challenges lead to one of the four being killed, making the others in the group suspect each other. It’s a movie of mistrust and figuring out what causes the rage virus to activate and who may have it at what time. Survival is not guaranteed for all.
This movie is not your traditional camp movie. There is no lake, cabins or giant dining hall. The usual camp setting was swapped out with a run-down Spanish villa. The main focus is on the counselors and others around the property. The body count is low, but death does come to camp and causes some havoc, especially with the nightmare-fueled ending to this movie, which still sticks with me.
Final Summer (2023)
“Better run, because Harry Warren Cooper will come for you!”
This movie is director John Isberg’s first film that he also wrote. He pulled the story from his own traumatic past of gaslighting and other forms of manipulation, which caused him PTSD. He wanted to face it and put it into the story along the lines of Friday the 13th (1980). The way the movie was filmed is supposed to represent the fight or flight response of a victim. As a victim, you’re just trying to survive through the experience and you’re not necessarily going to seek all the answers until later when you have time to process them.
That’s why the movie seems disjointed or has plot holes within it. That is what he is hoping to explore in the sequel.
The movie starts in the late Summer of 1991 at Camp Silverlake. As the camp closes and all the campers are gone for the season, the camp owner, Linnea Krug (Joi Hoffsommer), announces the camp will be permanently closed and sold to developers. She leaves to handle business while the counselors work to close up the camp forever. Lexi (Jenna Kohn), one of the counselors, is still reeling from an accident with a camper that could have been prevented by her, which brings up her past with her brother’s death.
A skull-masked killer shows up on the scene, killing counselors one by one. The counselors have to fight to survive and also follow the bread crumbs of who may be the real killer. Could it be the urban legend of Harry Warren Cooper? Or someone else with a grand scheme for murder?
At first, I have to admit that, like others, I was not sure about this movie. Death surely does come to camp and has a pretty large body count. The killer has a great look and uses the tools of a camper slasher. But the story also had its own issues. I was able to reach out to the director on Instagram and we got to talk about the film more.
I learned about his connection to this film as I explained above. He was very passionate about what he attempted and explained it was his first film, which may also have caused some storyline issues. Approaching the sequel, he hoped to fill those plot holes and expand the story.
Oh, dang, boys and ghouls! The sun is rising and the creatures of the night gotta get to bed. These films have always made me nostalgic, since as a kid I was a counselor myself. Makes me think of those simpler times but not as bloody and dangerous. If these movies make you want to jump back on the bus for camp, then definitely check out these other campy horror movies.
- The Burning (1981) slasher comes back for revenge with some amazing special effects by Tom Savini
- Friday the 13th (1980) a tent pole in this subgenre
- Madman(1981), an urban legend named Madman Marz is summoned and death follows
- The Final Girls (2015) is a wonderful film that pays tribute to films mentioned above but does a fun spin on it
- Cheerleader Camp (1988). You got Cheerleaders at camp and a mysterious killer taking them out one by one during the big camp competition
There are plenty more out there. Just grab a flashlight and look around in the dark woods. But you never know what may get you. Death may just be camping near you.