The 1980s gifted genre fans with so many memorable horror films. The A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises each released their first installment (and several sequels) during the decade. Practical effects were the name of the game and the slasher picture was king. Although it may not garner the same level of acclaim (or even awareness) as some of its peers, the ‘80s slasher film Sleepaway Camp remains an unforgettable effort for many of us who have experienced it. The film features a series of gnarly kills on the way to a shocking twist ending that you simply cannot unsee, one that has never been outdone despite sequels and the years since.
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In order to speak to why Sleepaway Camp is controversial, we must naturally reveal spoilers about the plot and twists in the film. So like a doomed camper
Why Is Sleepaway Camp So Controversial?
Sleepaway Camp follows Angela Baker (Felissa Rose) and her cousin, Ricky (Jonathan Tiersten) as they enjoy their summer vacation at Camp Arawak. Not long after their arrival, a series of grisly murders begin to transpire. The film culminates with a denouement and killer reveal that few saw coming. Specifically, we ultimately learn that Angela is actually her brother Peter and that her violent impulses seemingly stem from the years of abuse to which she has been subjected by being forced to live as their deceased sister.
To be fair, the trans representation in this film isn’t flattering, not by a long shot, literally. The trans killer trope has been done many times (Psycho and Dressed to Kill both feature variations) and often sends the (presumably unintentional) message that trans people are harmful and violent. While trans people are more likely to be victimized, it’s way off base to suggest that trans folks are more likely to perpetrate violence.
Despite everything it gets wrong, some members of the LGBTQIA community have a soft spot for Sleepaway Camp. Many concur that the picture is campy, brutal, and nonsensical and that while not all of the themes are handled as gracefully as we might hope, the film isn’t necessarily rooted in hatred, more so than a profound lack of understanding of the trans experience.
Sleepaway Camp’s Big Twist Is Guarded for a Reason
That lack of understanding may render the film unwatchable for some, and understandably so. But some queer horror fans, myself very much included, see this as a campy effort intent on shocking viewers at all costs. Moreover, some LGBTQIA film scholars have made the astute observation that this picture functions (perhaps unintentionally) as a portrait of the perils of enforcing gender roles.
Anyone who has seen Sleepaway Camp likely remembers that the forceful implementation of gender roles plays an important part in the narrative. After her father passes away in a boating accident, the lead character Angela is sent to live with her eccentric aunt Martha (Desiree Gould). What the viewer doesn’t know at the started is that Angela was assigned male at birth and Aunt Martha made the unilateral decision to enforce female gender norms because she already has a boy child in Angela’s cousin, Ricky.
While writer/director Robert Hiltzik may not have intended the film as a meditation on the perils of enforcing gender norms without concern for a person’s true gender identity, he successfully makes a compelling case for why it’s essential to allow people to live their truth. Aunt Martha traumatizes Angela, making her embarrassed of her own body. That sense of shame likely inspires her fateful decision to resort to violence.
The film protects the twist until the very end. The final frame where a crazed-looking Angela stands nude, revealing her secret, and genitals, makes a lasting impression. It changes the audience’s perspective on everything that came before that moment.
Some label the ending a cheap twist and that’s completely fair, seeing as it is a sensational conclusion designed with shock value in mind. However, this controversial picture still has a fanbase, thanks in large part to its unbridled approach to schlock and lack of couth. Despite this Sleepaway Camp is truly one of the most shocking, controversial horror pictures of the ‘80s. If you’re due for a repeat visit, you can find the flick streaming on multiple platforms at present, even for free on the likes of Tubi, Pluto, and The Roku Channel.
What are your thoughts on Sleepaway Camp and its place in the pop culture pantheon? Make sure to let us know in the comments section below!
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20th Television Animation
