[.ca] Camp Slaughter

...that one time in camp: Reviewing CAMP SLAUGHTER:
"Kumbaya my lord, kumbaya, Kumbaya my lord, kumbaya Kumbaya my lord, kumbaya, Oh lord, kumbaya" - Nineteenth century American folksong It is official folks, at this point in time I really have no idea what year it is anymore...and no, that has nothing to do with that lovely tasting case of Becks I enjoyed last weekend, but it has everything to do with Screamking Productions latest project called Camp Slaughter aka. Camp Daze. Remember those days back in the summer of 84 when your parents used to dress you in those cute but tight as hell adidas shorts, slapped on the complimentary polo shirt in all colors of the rainbow and send you off to Camp Happy-Place with a bunch of rowdy and obnoxious 14 year olds to learn about the old Indian techniques of fire making using nothing but a bunch of twigs? Do you also remember that when the kids weren't looking, the counselors where using the other old Indian technique of fire making called gallon of gasoline? Yes sir, those were the days when life was beautiful. But on the other side of the 80s, opposite the Flog of seagulls, the WWF with Jake the Snake Roberts, Boy George, Spandex (remember? Let's get physical) and "Different strokes for different folks" lingered something so dark, so sinister, so...magical...the 80s horror era and one of its most appealing and influential of sub genres - THE SLASHER FILM. That was the era where exactly those obnoxious teenagers in tight shorts and rainbow shirts I mentioned earlier were offed one by one in any imaginable way possible by an unseen killer in order to entertain the audiences. Long lost I thought these films. Long lost the seemingly never-ending nights of the three B's - Boobs, booze and bongs until...the year 2005! Just as I had settled the old DeLorian in the garage, once more I was called upon a journey back in time when I received Screamkings Productions screener for Camp Slaughter. What starts out as a seemingly innocent trip involving four friends Jen, Angela, Mario and Vade, soon becomes a nightmare and a fight for survival. After being left stranded with their SUV on a remote forest road, our characters get to meet the friendly, yet mysterious teens of Camp Hiawatha, a crew of campers and counselor strangely trapped in the summer of 1981. Intrigued yet? Not only do our characters realize that they are indeed back in 1981, but a mysterious killer is taking a heavy toll on the campers in true Friday the 13th fashion. Will our heroes find a way to help the time trapped teens and who will be the killer? You will have to watch the film to find out. Sounds campy and cheesy to you? Whatchu' talkin' 'bout Willis? Well, let me tell you something. In a industry were people are competing with mediocre product, horrible CGI fx and where people are trying to come up with the most bizarre and weirdest storylines imaginable just to look creative, heading back to the roots is the most refreshing idea imaginable. CAMP SLAUGHTER goes back to the roots hardcore and that's what filmmaking is all about, taking chances, but no prisoners. Right from the opening sequence to the last minute Camp Daze feels and looks just like another installment of the F13 series and that's exactly what the director intended - give the fans of the genre what they really love. It is campy, it is old school, but most of all it is possibly the coolest Campground Slasher film since Sean S. Cunningham reinvented the genre back in 1980. It is sexy, it is gory and it is fun from start to finish and it is a true homage to a genre long thought dead. It brings the Slasher film back with a vengeance with a estimated body count of 37 and 40 gallons of fake blood. But still Camp Slaughter doesn't go overboard on the gore but convinces with a brilliant cast of young and talented actors mixed with all the clichés you want in a Slasher flick - the feeling, the location, the kills and sex, drugs and rock and roll. Camp Slaughter is destined to become an instant fan classic upon its DVD release, simply because of the films well fitting location, its simplistic storyline but fantastic execution. If going by the 110 minute screener, the DVD release promises to be dynamite; jam-packed with special features and I for one am looking forward to it. Fingers crossed it will find its well deserved resting place right next to YOUR copies of Friday the 13th and Sleepaway camp. The aforementioned location is absolutely amazing and truly brings you back to the 80s summer camp. The cinematography is fantastic and pulls every stop known from the 80s horror films to please the viewer. From the many shots around the woods, the full frames of the killings, the trusty "peeking through the bushes" shots, to the many long pans at night over the lake with fog swirling about like giant snakes brings you straight back to "Camp Blood", or in this case "Camp Hiawatha". If you are anything like myself after watching this film, a horror movie fan magically transcended back to 1981 you will be chanting the Hiawatha campfire song from dawn till dusk while roasting smores in your living room fireplace. Not only does Camp Slaughter look like the 80s, sound like the 80s and feel like the 80s, I reckon it will make you break out the old Rocksteady Crew albums along with your double belts hanging from your hips, and your aviator glasses, just because you know YOU MISS those times. If there was one film that I can't recommend enough and one film that truly deserves to be called the Slasher film of the new millennium it is called Camp Slaughter by Screamking Productions.