Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008)

 

In my previous look back at the non-sequel that was Son of Sleepaway Camp (aka Memorial Valley Massacre), I mentioned that, sure, it was bad—but at least it wasn’t Return to Sleepaway Camp bad. That wasn’t a joke. 

Before I dive in, let me state that I don’t want to turn this into something overly negative. There’s a great website, SleepawayCampFilms.com, dedicated to the franchise, and the people behind it deserve a lot of credit for helping bring this project together. They managed to reconnect the writer/director of the original film, Robert Hiltzik, with much of the original cast, including Paul DeAngelo (Counselor Ronnie), Jonathan Tiersten (Ricky), and of course, Felissa Rose as Angela Baker.

I love those first three Sleepaway Camp movies. They go from the mysterious, eerie slasher feel of the first film to the more comedic, over-the-top silliness of the Pamela Springsteen-led sequels, yet each one has its own charm, and that’s part of why they work for me. Maybe to a lesser extent with the third film, but that’s okay—it still has its moments.

Hiltzik had no involvement with those sequels, disagreeing with that previously referenced decision to take the series in a comedic direction. After the first film, he left the industry to pursue other interests. Producer Jerry Silva, who worked on the original film, helped get the first two sequels off the ground, filming them back-to-back and releasing them in 1988 and 1989. That eventually led to the ill-fated Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor in 1992, a film that was never completed due to the production company being shut down during shooting.

Fast forward to 2003, a new film is underway with the aforementioned cast & director from the original. On paper, this seemed like it was going to be a love letter for fans of that film. Granted, it was going to ignore the events of Parts 2 and 3. Personally, I’m not a fan of that decision, but if the movie is good, then no worries. But if you’ve seen it, then you already know how that turned out.

Again, I don’t want this to turn sour, but it’s time to discuss the finished product. The story follows Alan, an overweight teenager who quickly finds himself the target of relentless bullying at summer camp. As the abuse escalates, campers and counselors alike begin turning up dead, with Angela Baker once again lurking in the shadows. It’s a simple setup that “tries” to recapture the spirit of the original.

I hate this. Like, not everything, but most of it. I appreciate bringing back the original cast—that’s fun. And yes, technically that’s a spoiler because the killer is once again Angela (Felissa Rose), who spends most of the movie dressed as a sheriff investigating the murders at the camp. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve seen any of the previous entries or not—you know this character is not who they say they are, largely due to the ridiculous costume. She’s still great, though. 

Now, before jumping into what really turned this against me, as well as many others, I have to mention the celebrity cameos. Isaac Hayes shows up as the camp chef. Get it? South Park. Vincent Pastore appears, and one character refers to him as a “Big Pussy.” Get it? The Sopranos. REFERENCES. 

Our protagonist, Alan…dear god. Nothing against the actor who played him—he’s just a kid doing what he was asked to do. Alan, on the other hand, is the worst. Not just in this movie, but literally the worst. One of the worst characters in any slasher film ever. Maybe any horror movie ever. Yeah…I’m comfortable saying that. He’s constantly picked on by the other campers, but we never feel bad for him. Why? Because he treats everyone like shit. The movie opens with him bullying others, so when it’s turned back on him, why the hell would we care? He also comes equipped with his own catch phrase. Like a pull string doll. 

The film spends the entire runtime wanting you to think he’s the killer. But again, you have a cartoon-like sheriff with a prosthetic nose and a voice box that you already know is the damn killer. This movie is so frustrating. 

If Alan is the most irritating thing about this, the most frustrating aspect is the CGI. One of the biggest reasons this sat on the shelf for five years after filming was because Hiltzik wasn’t happy with the original digital effects. New artists were brought in, some scenes were reshot, and the end result is…it still looks awful. You can tell what was redone because there are a few—and I do mean a few—practical effects that actually look decent. Not that you’ll remember any of them, because you won’t be able to forget the dodgy CGI used throughout the rest of it.

Combine that with failed distribution deals, and it was all sort of a recipe for disaster. In mid-2008, Magnolia Pictures picked it up for a straight-to-DVD release.

I remember the initial reaction to it was, well, poor. For the reasons referenced above, but also because the story just wasn’t good. It moves slowly. When it tries to be funny, it isn’t. It lacked everything that made the previous films enjoyable. Again, it’s fun seeing the returning cast, but there’s not a whole lot of interaction between them. The supporting cast—the counselors, campers, etc.—just doesn’t work. Everyone is an asshole. This was, and still is, such a letdown.

It was reported in 2025 that a production company helmed by Saturday Night Live alum Kenan Thompson is working with Hiltzik on a new Sleepaway Camp movie—a remake. Which, of course, leaves me hoping for one thing: a reunion with Kenan’s former co-star, Kel Mitchell. Death by orange soda bottle. 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go cleanse my palate by watching Felissa Rose rap about food safety.