Summer Camp Nightmare (1987)

PG-13 |  | Drama, Thriller | 17 April 1987 (USA)

Director: Bert L. Dragin 

Writers: Bert L Dragin

Screenplay: Penelope Spheeris

Soundtrack: Ted Neeley 

Based on the book "The Butterfly Revolution" by William Butler.

"Attention campers! Welcome to North Pines, where we got lotsa soul, and rock-n-roll, and wild times." This film defines the eighties; the cheese, the mullets, the headbands, the ragged jeans. Summer Camp Nightmare is pure fun and a great addition to the eighties teen movie legacy. I also found this one hiding out in the horror section (where it does not belong). It's title is a tad misleading (except the camp part, because this movie's full of it). It's storyline is similar to that of Lord of the Flies but it doesn't take itself that seriously. Instead, it becomes one of the most hilarious flicks I've ever seen. Charles Stratton does an excellent job as a far-out Counselor In Training who leads the revolution of Camp North Pines. "Society keeps us in line by the use of fear. When we overcome fear, that's when we stand above society." With this theory, he convinces almost everyone to join the revolt. It's filled with great characters, the best of course being Runk the Punk with his Iron Maiden t-shirt. Runk, without a doubt, has the two best lines in the movie. 1) "Stay outta my face, small crap." and 2) when he and Mason (Tom Fridley from Friday the 13th Part VI) lip sync a Fear song titled "Beef Bologna" at the talent show. From there, the movie gets fairly medieval as the kids become more and more primitive. Their new society fails and all hell breaks loose. If you're a fan of the eighties, you have to find this cult classic. To the revolution!

STARRING:

Chuck Conners

Charles Stratton

Adam Carl

Tom Fridley

Stuart Rogers

Samantha Newark

Harold P. Pruett

Melissa Brennan

Nancy Calabrese

 

 

Movie stills "Summer camp nightmare" (Debbie)