Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers

Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers

Starring Pamela Springsteen, Renee Estevez, Tony Higgins, Valerie Hartman
Directed by Michael A. Simpson

The Story:
Years after the massacre at Camp Arawak, a new camp has opened nearby and soon counselors and teens alike start dying at the hands of the killer.

The Synopsis:

**Warning: This will give away the plot of the first film, so if you haven't seen it yet, watch it first then read this review...although I don't know why you'd read a review for a sequel without seeing the original, but still.**

So with the spoiler warning in effect, it's time to get into this movie.  First of all, it strikes an incredibly different tone than the first.  Whereas the first "Sleepaway Camp" had an heir of mystery and fear, we already know who the killer is in the sequel, and it takes on a campy, light-hearted, humorous tone.  It's what keeps the film as a cult classic, because it can make fun of itself as well as making fun of the generation it was made for.  We're in on the joke, and it's a very funny one at that.

So the killer - Angela - returns after spending some time at a psychiatric hospital and takes a job as a counselor (since back in the day background checks were a lot less strict).  She has a new lease on life, a new attitude, and new mantra: the good people live, and those who partake in sinful activities (such as sex, nudity, drugs, alcohol, or just talking to the opposite sex) deserve death, and she is the Angel of Death (get it?  "Angel"a? Angel?).  So without having to worry about concealing a killer, we get to see Angela embark in her gleeful killing spree, and we get to sit back and enjoy the ride.

In this film, Angela serves as a mix between Jigsaw from "Saw" and Freddy from "A Nightmare on Elm Street."  She punishes the wicked, and does so with hilarious quips and life lessons.  It's hilarious to see how she's so cavalier in her killing that she doesn't even see it as bad - more a way to punish bad behavior.  And at a camp like this, there's a lot of bad behavior to go around!

Pamela Springsteen stars as Angela, and if the last name throws you off, she is indeed related to "The Boss" - she's his sister.  You can tell who has the singing talent in the family when she tries to lead the counselors in singing, and she doesn't have it.  Still, she's got a remarkable charm about her that makes you root for her - even as she kills a girl by forcing her down an outhouse toilet and covering her in feces and leeches - because leeches apparently live in outhouses.  She really enjoys her character, and we enjoy her too - starkly different than Angela's first appearance when she's timid, shy, and barely utters a word.

The other main character is Molly, played by Renee Estevez - again, if the last name throws you, she is indeed the sister of Emilio and Charlie Sheen.  She is the virginal, quiet, shy, typical girl-next-door that you just know will survive the night of horrors because she doesn't participate in the typical horror tropes you'd expect.  Or will she?

Speaking of horror tropes, I love how this film makes fun of them in the most outlandish ways possible.  While a girl is confessing to Angela that she might indeed had murdered the previous counselors, we see Angela going through a different array of weapons to kill the girl with - from a wire hanger to a pencil to a boom box - but nothing fits the bill more than a guitar string.  Doing drugs?  You'll pay.  Having sex?  For sure you'll pay.  Trying to scare Angela?  She'll scare you to death!  Speaking of that, the film gives a not-so-subtle nod to previous horror franchises by having two kids dress up as Freddy and Jason, while Angela chases them dressed as Leatherface.  Hysterical!

The film, much like the first, is not great by any means.  You can see the dead bodies breathing, their eyes blinking, and mouths moving.  You see bodies before they even die due to terrible editing.  You notice that all the leaves are brown, despite it supposedly being middle of summer.  There's so many problems with the film you can have a good ole time just trying to find them all, but don't let that deter you from this hidden gem of awfulness, because it's a great way to pass the day.

The Summary:
By amping up the deaths and humor, "Sleepaway Camp II" offers a much different feel than its original by offering a humorous camp romp with a charismatic, humorous killer you actually want to root for.

The Score: B