No matter how far I may stray away, I always find my way back to the almighty slasher flick! It’s nice to take a break and watch some different types of horror from time to time, but my favorite will always be in this specific sub-genre. Fortunately for me, I picked a good one this time! Harrison Smith’s Camp Dread is quite funny, unpredictable, and overall a great time.
Julian Barrett (Eric Roberts) is a washed-up director looking to cash in on his old horror franchise, “Summer Camp,” many years after its initial demise. Tricking troubled young adults into thinking they are arriving at a rehab-type facility, he now has the perfect cast for his masterpiece reboot. Little do these folks know, however, that they are in for the competition of their lives. The last man standing is promised a $1 million prize, but who will make it to the end?
The more films I watch, the more I’m starting to realize that there are different classes of independent horror films. There are the no-budget flicks that go straight to YouTube that are nearly impossible to sit through entirely, the low-budget films that are too ambitious for their allowance and just fall short of an entertaining project, and finally, the higher-budgeted indie flicks that gets everything just right. Camp Dread knew its boundaries and allocated things perfectly to maximize the experience to be had by all of its viewers.
With names like Danielle Harris, Felissa Rose, and Eric Roberts attached to a film, one would naturally expect some pretty great performances. Surprisingly though, the best acting was done by the lesser known stars who made up the group of unsuspecting youths. With the exception of one or so deliveries, everyone seemed rather natural, making for a better viewing experience, overall. There was no real over-acting and certainly no one I completely hated, like has happened in so many other indie films I’ve watched recently.
In true slasher fashion, the kills were pretty great, even causing me to wince a time or two. The effects weren’t the greatest I’ve seen, but they were good enough, making the originality of the kills that much better.
I must admit that I didn’t know what to expect when I popped this movie in and pressed play, but I was pleasantly surprised. It held my attention all the way through and turned out to be a very fun movie.
If you love slashers, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Camp Dread, officially being released by RLJ/Image Entertainment next Tuesday, April 8.
I give this film 4 troubled children out of 5.
