Dundead: SQIFF presents Sleepaway Camp

We are delighted that this screening will be introduced by Indigo Korres, Director of Scottish Queer International Festival (SQIFF).

One of the definitive cult horror films, Sleepaway Camp is a trashy teen slasher in the Friday the 13th mould. And while slasher films can be broadly remembered for their restrictive heteronormativity, Sleepaway Camp is particularly notable for its exploration of queer themes. Sleepaway Camp is not subtle or necessarily in good taste, and often plays into problematic tropes, but the film has nonetheless been reclaimed and celebrated by queer audiences in the years since its release. 

Shy, mute Angela (an iconic performance by Felissa Rose) goes to stay at Camp Arawak with her cousin Ricky. Unlike other teen slashers, Sleepaway Camp’s cast of campers are mostly made up of actual teenagers, and the scenes of them hanging out and misbehaving feel refreshingly authentic. It also means that when the teens are put in danger, the results feel particularly transgressive. 

There is an element of sexual violence to some scenes near the start, and while thankfully restrained in terms of onscreen depictions, there can be a bit of a nasty streak to the film. 

It’s a fascinatingly thorny film with an undeniable legacy, filled with brilliant moments, memorable performances and a truly unforgettable, and now rightly iconic, ending.