16 reviews
Eric Roberts plays washed-up filmmaker Julian, director of the "Summer Camp" movies, a trilogy of wildly successful horror films from the 80s. He has recruited a bunch of young wayward delinquents who have pssed off their parents, to have them attend his summer camp in lieu of jail or rehab.
The camp is covered in cameras, and so are the young adults, as they are told that they will be participating in a reality series, where one by one they will be participating in a series of challenges, and "fake killed," with the last one standing winning a million dollars. There's more to the story but it doesn't really make a difference in the film. It's so convoluted that none of it really does.
Felissa Rose (of Sleepaway Camp fame, get it?), plays the washed up star of Julian's famed trilogy who is now a therapist, and as head counsellor seeks to rehabilitate these wayward youths.
This being a horror movie of course, they start getting offed for real, as they slowly begin to discover the truth of why they are there.
There are a few decent kills here but nothing much new. The gore and effects are pretty standard. One character in particular is killed with an object I won't name, but I'm pretty sure it's the first time put to film. You'll know it when you see it near the end.
One of the things that drew me to watch this film was the supposed starring role of scream queen Danielle Harris, who started in horror films back in 1988, has been in 4 Halloween films, and has always been a favourite actress of mine. She has SECOND BILLING in the credits and everywhere else but only appears IN TWO BRIEF SCENES FOR A TOTAL TIME OF UNDER 5 MINUTES. Obviously she was attached to this movie just to sell tickets, and cash a paycheck.
All in all a sub-par effort.
The camp is covered in cameras, and so are the young adults, as they are told that they will be participating in a reality series, where one by one they will be participating in a series of challenges, and "fake killed," with the last one standing winning a million dollars. There's more to the story but it doesn't really make a difference in the film. It's so convoluted that none of it really does.
Felissa Rose (of Sleepaway Camp fame, get it?), plays the washed up star of Julian's famed trilogy who is now a therapist, and as head counsellor seeks to rehabilitate these wayward youths.
This being a horror movie of course, they start getting offed for real, as they slowly begin to discover the truth of why they are there.
There are a few decent kills here but nothing much new. The gore and effects are pretty standard. One character in particular is killed with an object I won't name, but I'm pretty sure it's the first time put to film. You'll know it when you see it near the end.
One of the things that drew me to watch this film was the supposed starring role of scream queen Danielle Harris, who started in horror films back in 1988, has been in 4 Halloween films, and has always been a favourite actress of mine. She has SECOND BILLING in the credits and everywhere else but only appears IN TWO BRIEF SCENES FOR A TOTAL TIME OF UNDER 5 MINUTES. Obviously she was attached to this movie just to sell tickets, and cash a paycheck.
All in all a sub-par effort.
- victoryismineblast
- Apr 15, 2014
- Permalink
The "staring actress"? She has about 5 minutes of total screen time.
The movie gets 2 stars for a solid production value, and 1 for OKAY acting...the rest? It's all bad.
I usually know anything with Eric Roberts is going to be trash ...but due to Harris name attached I watched it...kudos to them, they fooled me. Good job?
The plot doesn't make a lot of sense, and by the time you understand why they're doing all this, you've already lost interest.
Without spoiling anything, I'll just say the ending makes no sense...like...what was the motivations for ..the last one alive...? There was no motivation and it wasn't apart of their character at all, were they just faking it? I don't get it...this was a classic case of a film trying to be smarter than it is, which ends up confusing everyone (not cuz we can't grasp it but cuz it makes no sense) and being stupid. None of the kills were anything special.
The movie gets 2 stars for a solid production value, and 1 for OKAY acting...the rest? It's all bad.
I usually know anything with Eric Roberts is going to be trash ...but due to Harris name attached I watched it...kudos to them, they fooled me. Good job?
The plot doesn't make a lot of sense, and by the time you understand why they're doing all this, you've already lost interest.
Without spoiling anything, I'll just say the ending makes no sense...like...what was the motivations for ..the last one alive...? There was no motivation and it wasn't apart of their character at all, were they just faking it? I don't get it...this was a classic case of a film trying to be smarter than it is, which ends up confusing everyone (not cuz we can't grasp it but cuz it makes no sense) and being stupid. None of the kills were anything special.
Ok...clever plot twist ending.
virtually no Danielle Harris (5 minutes tops).
next to no blood.
eh.
- jamesmbarnes-78827
- Nov 7, 2020
- Permalink
- bastian-kreuzer
- Sep 25, 2014
- Permalink
A washed up director, played by washed up actor Eric Roberts, sets up a reality TV show where the contestants get murdered. A familiar and simple plot that's been used many times in the 10 years or so since reality TV was topical. But this movie is so ineptly put together that it makes less sense at it goes on.
Eric Roberts may as well have been filmed actually reading from the script since he conveys no emotions whatsoever. The movie does have one intriguing idea regarding the reason the contestants were picked but fails to go anywhere with it making the already threadbare plot even less believable.
The contestants are so uninteresting that you can sum them up in their entirely with a three word description. Fake leg guy. Girl in lingerie. That's not a sign of a good movie. I didn't expect much out of this but honestly my low expectations were a long way from met. Well, that's just a viewers opinion read the other reviews to see what the makers thought of their own movie. Turns out they liked it.
Eric Roberts may as well have been filmed actually reading from the script since he conveys no emotions whatsoever. The movie does have one intriguing idea regarding the reason the contestants were picked but fails to go anywhere with it making the already threadbare plot even less believable.
The contestants are so uninteresting that you can sum them up in their entirely with a three word description. Fake leg guy. Girl in lingerie. That's not a sign of a good movie. I didn't expect much out of this but honestly my low expectations were a long way from met. Well, that's just a viewers opinion read the other reviews to see what the makers thought of their own movie. Turns out they liked it.
- sebpopcorn
- Jul 2, 2014
- Permalink
Don't go into "Camp Dread" with expectations of something new. This is a by-the-books slasher, and all the rules are respected (for a reason). Dumb and horny teenagers, a cabin by the lake, a mystery killer, gory offings every 10 minutes or so, down to the finale where the survivor keeps running into the dead bodies of her former inmates as he/she tries to escape the killer.
References abound in more than just the tired, if necessary, format. Felissa Rose plays the star of a slasher 80's trilogy, much like she did in real life as the cult hermaphrodite killer in "Sleepaway Camp". Most murders are recreations of classic offings from previous slashers, like "Friday the 13th" but also "Psycho". Of course, this all fits into the script, since this tells the story of a twisted slasher producer experimenting on a new reality-TV format for the 4th installment of his long-forgotten horror franchise.
Bodies are dispatched at a slower rate than usual, which is the movie's main setback. Unlike successful slashers of yore, most of the offings happen after the 40 minute-mark, with a crescendo during the last 20 minutes. For that reason, there's no real final girl, or suspense for the climax.
Although villains are a-plenty in this amoral marathon, the movie succeeds in keeping the audience wondering who is the killer, and a few final twists will actually keep you off-guard. That and a fair amount of blood should satisfy any slasher fan's basic needs.
References abound in more than just the tired, if necessary, format. Felissa Rose plays the star of a slasher 80's trilogy, much like she did in real life as the cult hermaphrodite killer in "Sleepaway Camp". Most murders are recreations of classic offings from previous slashers, like "Friday the 13th" but also "Psycho". Of course, this all fits into the script, since this tells the story of a twisted slasher producer experimenting on a new reality-TV format for the 4th installment of his long-forgotten horror franchise.
Bodies are dispatched at a slower rate than usual, which is the movie's main setback. Unlike successful slashers of yore, most of the offings happen after the 40 minute-mark, with a crescendo during the last 20 minutes. For that reason, there's no real final girl, or suspense for the climax.
Although villains are a-plenty in this amoral marathon, the movie succeeds in keeping the audience wondering who is the killer, and a few final twists will actually keep you off-guard. That and a fair amount of blood should satisfy any slasher fan's basic needs.
- tdeladeriere
- Oct 18, 2014
- Permalink
I am so angry at myself for paying for this DVD without reading more reviews. It is an Inept, dull, lifeless, low-budget, boring, rip-off of a movie. I threw it in the trash half way through. Avoid this dreck . You have been warned!
This movie was boring, there was almost no gore and the story was just so bad, it had more holes in it than a piece of swiss cheese. This movie is a pure waste of money that could have been used to make a proper movie. I have nothing more to say about this
- pieterjanspiessens
- Sep 21, 2018
- Permalink
- ArchieIsCool
- Jul 4, 2014
- Permalink
- morrison-dylan-fan
- Nov 30, 2016
- Permalink
I liked the sound of the premise, really anything to do with camp gets me excited to watch, but Camp Dread is so bad, and it never even comes close to the so-bad-it's-good pile.
What I really hate in this genre I love so much is when endings make the whole film seem pointless and in my opinion thats what this film does. It's misleading, and im not just talking about Danielle Harris getting a star billing.
The death scenes weren't too bad, but when the movie finished I was extremely disappointed. If you like low-budget trashy camp flicks try Bloody Murder 2. It's so bad its good. This is so bad it's not even worth wasting your time on.
What I really hate in this genre I love so much is when endings make the whole film seem pointless and in my opinion thats what this film does. It's misleading, and im not just talking about Danielle Harris getting a star billing.
The death scenes weren't too bad, but when the movie finished I was extremely disappointed. If you like low-budget trashy camp flicks try Bloody Murder 2. It's so bad its good. This is so bad it's not even worth wasting your time on.
This movie will have you second guessing who's who as far as the killer of this movie.
Several young adults are brought to a camp competing against one another for a grand prize as part of a new reality show rather than facing jail or rehab. The twist, the camp is part of a classic 80's horror trilogy "Summer Camp" (like we don't know it's a spoof of Sleepaway Camp")and that there is suppose to be a "killer" that takes you "out". The problem, people are going missing for real and the bodies are about to pop out.
Overall, it's your typical suspense thriller/horror film trying to get back to the roots of the hayday horror films of the 80's. However, the plot twist as to the killer's identity and motive will greatly surprise and shock you. Nothing is as it seems in this film and you will be trying to figure it out to the very last minute.
Several young adults are brought to a camp competing against one another for a grand prize as part of a new reality show rather than facing jail or rehab. The twist, the camp is part of a classic 80's horror trilogy "Summer Camp" (like we don't know it's a spoof of Sleepaway Camp")and that there is suppose to be a "killer" that takes you "out". The problem, people are going missing for real and the bodies are about to pop out.
Overall, it's your typical suspense thriller/horror film trying to get back to the roots of the hayday horror films of the 80's. However, the plot twist as to the killer's identity and motive will greatly surprise and shock you. Nothing is as it seems in this film and you will be trying to figure it out to the very last minute.
- justinandemily10
- May 10, 2014
- Permalink
- acidburn-10
- May 22, 2014
- Permalink
I gave this movie 5 stars because I thought it was a fun, entertaining movie. With most of the movies in the horror/slasher genres being almost unwatchable, this was actually a treat. Not once did I feel like turning it off.
Eric Roberts is always a fantastic actor, and he did a great job as a washed up director who's trying to make a comeback.
Danielle Harris, who's only in the movie for five minutes - at the most - was good in her cameo type role as the sheriff.
Nicole Cinaglia is a definite scream queen, and she did a good job on the role of Adrienne.
The rest of the cast was good enough for what was required of them. In a movie like this, you have to expect most - if not all - are going to die, so I guess the writers felt there wasn't much point in layering their characters with any real development. Since there was a sizeable amount of people in this, I'm guessing the writers didn't want to waste screen time fleshing out that many characters. It would've been nice had they done it for at least a few though.
If you love the slasher genre, I'd advise you to watch this. As I said in my headline, it's not good, but it is fun, and it deserves to be seen. Enjoy! :D
Eric Roberts is always a fantastic actor, and he did a great job as a washed up director who's trying to make a comeback.
Danielle Harris, who's only in the movie for five minutes - at the most - was good in her cameo type role as the sheriff.
Nicole Cinaglia is a definite scream queen, and she did a good job on the role of Adrienne.
The rest of the cast was good enough for what was required of them. In a movie like this, you have to expect most - if not all - are going to die, so I guess the writers felt there wasn't much point in layering their characters with any real development. Since there was a sizeable amount of people in this, I'm guessing the writers didn't want to waste screen time fleshing out that many characters. It would've been nice had they done it for at least a few though.
If you love the slasher genre, I'd advise you to watch this. As I said in my headline, it's not good, but it is fun, and it deserves to be seen. Enjoy! :D
- chrismackey1972
- Jul 6, 2014
- Permalink
Aiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiai, voila ladies and germs, that should be my review. Do I need to say more? Guess you want to know why I'm saying those words.
This is a throwback to the slashers from the eighties but then done in a bad way. First the positive news, it's great to see Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp (1983) back here. I knew she was to return to the genre after the Blu Ray release of Sleepaway Camp. And in fact, this story do talk about her history in a film franchise, only with another title so far so good, and she even didn't act that bad at all.
The bad things are the facts that Danielle Harris (the sheriff) is used to promote this flick, and face it, she's only in it for a few minutes. On the other hand it could have been a really good flick but before things go wrong it's rather a boring flick with a lot of talking going on. When the first killing happens it was rather well done. It's messy and gory an I thought, hell, this is going to be good after all.
We also have sexy chick who happens to be lesbian so they do talk a lot about sex and doing it but it never happens and can someone tell me why one of the girls is wearing a towel because when she suddenly drops it she's still wearing her underwear. The only tittie shot happens due a sex scene boy girl; It's rather funny because the are doing it, with their underwear on. The funny part lays in the fact that we do see the cum on her body and watch closely, she never wipes it from her body when her lesbian friend enters, funny is the fact that she says, hmmm, it do smell sex here.
But look, I'm telling about the funny parts and not about the horror and it isn't even a comedy. When killings are done they are on-camera and are in fact gory but even there it becomes a bit ridiculous that a severed head can decapitate another human. How, well you must see it.
I guess the director went for PG-13. If it was unrated it could have been a lot better, so many shower scene's are involved here only showing...water. You know, if you want to return to the eighties then you know nudity has to be involved.
An ideal flick to start the evening and to see Felissa again. And for the not intended funny moments.
Gore 1,5/5 Nudity 0,5/5 Effects 3/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5
This is a throwback to the slashers from the eighties but then done in a bad way. First the positive news, it's great to see Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp (1983) back here. I knew she was to return to the genre after the Blu Ray release of Sleepaway Camp. And in fact, this story do talk about her history in a film franchise, only with another title so far so good, and she even didn't act that bad at all.
The bad things are the facts that Danielle Harris (the sheriff) is used to promote this flick, and face it, she's only in it for a few minutes. On the other hand it could have been a really good flick but before things go wrong it's rather a boring flick with a lot of talking going on. When the first killing happens it was rather well done. It's messy and gory an I thought, hell, this is going to be good after all.
We also have sexy chick who happens to be lesbian so they do talk a lot about sex and doing it but it never happens and can someone tell me why one of the girls is wearing a towel because when she suddenly drops it she's still wearing her underwear. The only tittie shot happens due a sex scene boy girl; It's rather funny because the are doing it, with their underwear on. The funny part lays in the fact that we do see the cum on her body and watch closely, she never wipes it from her body when her lesbian friend enters, funny is the fact that she says, hmmm, it do smell sex here.
But look, I'm telling about the funny parts and not about the horror and it isn't even a comedy. When killings are done they are on-camera and are in fact gory but even there it becomes a bit ridiculous that a severed head can decapitate another human. How, well you must see it.
I guess the director went for PG-13. If it was unrated it could have been a lot better, so many shower scene's are involved here only showing...water. You know, if you want to return to the eighties then you know nudity has to be involved.
An ideal flick to start the evening and to see Felissa again. And for the not intended funny moments.
Gore 1,5/5 Nudity 0,5/5 Effects 3/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5
This one came into the library where I catalog items, and I snatched it up, since one of my favorite B actors, Eric Roberts, was on the cover. I didn't even read what it was about before popping it into the DVD player.
It was an amusing throwback to the 80's slasher films, with today's technology. The opening where Eric Robert's character, Julian, and the sheriff were eating breakfast, instantly made me think of the small town I grew up in. And then when they showed the cabins it looked almost exactly like Edgewater Inn and Cabins where the yearly IndieHorror.TV Cabin Weekend takes place. I felt a kinship with the movie right away.
It was very enjoyable, and the kill scenes were pretty decent. Towards the end I was lost for a second when one of the characters was attacked, but then a second later the killer was outside the door. But after I thought about it, it made sense. There was a twist at the end that I did not predict, which was nice. I would recommend this movie, especially if you enjoy 80's slashers.
It was an amusing throwback to the 80's slasher films, with today's technology. The opening where Eric Robert's character, Julian, and the sheriff were eating breakfast, instantly made me think of the small town I grew up in. And then when they showed the cabins it looked almost exactly like Edgewater Inn and Cabins where the yearly IndieHorror.TV Cabin Weekend takes place. I felt a kinship with the movie right away.
It was very enjoyable, and the kill scenes were pretty decent. Towards the end I was lost for a second when one of the characters was attacked, but then a second later the killer was outside the door. But after I thought about it, it made sense. There was a twist at the end that I did not predict, which was nice. I would recommend this movie, especially if you enjoy 80's slashers.
- kimheniadis
- Jan 14, 2016
- Permalink