Camping With Killers, Murder Creatures, Cult Crazies

The cult horror classic Sleepaway Camp, a Friday the 13th photocopy, came out in 1983 and has one of the most shocking “didn’t see that coming” endings in horror movie history. Two other notes of interest: Sleepaway Camp was released as Nightmare Vacation in England, and Anchor Bay Entertainment™, who reissued the movie as a four-disc box set, was cease and desisted by the Red Cross™ for the use of their globally-recognized medical red cross symbol on the box cover. Note of no interest: Sleepaway Camp was followed by four sequels, Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988), Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland (1989), Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008), and Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor (2012).

Now, thanks to On Set Cinema™, you can attend a screening of the movie where it was filmed. From the press release: “Join On Set Cinema™ in Argyle, NY this summer where Camp Arawak once stood for a very special screening event for the 1983 slasher cult classic, Sleepaway Camp. Nearly the entire movie was filmed at this location. They will be doing two back-to-back events — Monday, June 19th & Tuesday, June 20th, 2023.”

“Fans will enjoy an entire day at the former camp — there will be swimming and kayaking in the lake where a ton of scenes in the movie took place (watch out for Kenny’s body), a filming locations walking tour, a screening of the movie where the infamous Angela ending took place and overnight tent camping to get the full Sleepaway Camp experience! Get tickets here.”

So while we pack up our sleeping bags and slasher repellent and head to Camp Arawak, here are a few upcoming horror/sci-fi movies that may or may not have an ending that’s as messed up as Sleepaway Camp…

SHIFTED / April 18, 2023 (Screambox™)

“As murderous creatures ravage the outside, a group of neighbors take refuge in an isolated house. Their relief is short-lived as a sinister secret hides within those walls, and they become the prey of a serial killer hidden among them. As supplies dwindle and paranoia grows, they are left to wonder who will survive when the world has…shifted.”

They don’t explain who/what the murderous creatures are, but I’m thinkin’ Republicans.

TOTEM CHASER / May 3, 2023 (Brooklyn, NY premier), Release pending 2023 (VOD)

“A video crew seeks the truth of the paranormal. A cult priestess lures them to be unwitting sacrifices, while they believe this is the haunted house that will bring them fame and fortune. When they find themselves in too deep, it’s a race against time for the video crew to stop the embodiment of a demonic god — or feed their flesh to the Totem Cult.”

Cult priestess…haunted house…human sacrifice…demonic god. There are worse things to do on a Saturday night.

THE THIRD SATURDAY IN OCTOBER PART 1 / May 5, 2023 (VOD)

“October 1979. Ricky Dean is a man on a mission. Years ago, he lost a child at the hands of a psychopathic killer named Jakkariah Harding. When Harding escapes Death Row, Ricky throws himself into the line of fire to stop him from killing again as Harding preys upon a group of friends gathered to watch a college football game.”

Lots of other events happened in October of 1979: The U.S. returned the Canal Zone to Panama (about freakin’ time), Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and was awarded $192,000.00 (she gave it to the poor instead of letting it ride on red at the casinos), and “My Sharona” by acid jazz pop rockers The Knack falls from the #1 spot on Billboard™ after ruling the radio for six weeks. Being a psychopathic killer back then kinda pales in comparison.

THE THIRD SATURDAY IN OCTOBER PART V / May 5, 2023 (VOD)

“Unstoppable killer Jakkariah “Jack” Harding is back in town after seven years, as he stalks and kills at random before chancing upon a football watch party. The game is, of course, between longstanding rivals the Alabama-Mobile Seahawks and Tennessee A&M Commonwealth. Chaos ensues, in increasingly ridiculous fashion, with inventive murders and multiple love triangles. Hearts are broken and appendages are torn.”

Don’t let the Part V fool you — Part II, III and IV do not exist, so this is the sequel to Part I. Confusing, but not as confusing as the fake football teams (Alabama-Mobile Seahawks?) and why the killer only targets people watching said football games. Heaven help us if Jakkariah catches anyone watching the Cornhole Olympics on ESPN™.

Melting Faces On The Rocks

What’s worse — drinking wine and watching your flesh literally turn into hot pudding, or your joystick falling off and a bunch of junkyard hobos playing keep away with it? If you’re a guy, I already know your answer.

All of this and more happens in the cult comedy horror classic, Street Trash (1987). This movie, about alcohol that melts you, people living in city dumps and some of the most stinkiest sex you’ll ever hope to not have, has this and more.

Brooklyn, New York. A liquor store owner finds a 60 year-old case of wine called Tenafly Viper. (Who wouldn’t drink that?) His client base is the homeless, so sit back and watch the crumpled bills flow like bum honey.

Within two seconds of consuming said Viper wine, your flesh liquifies, turns into a carnival of colors, and your drinking problem is solved forever. A frantic cop tries to solve the deaths, all the while a mentally unplugged Vietnam veteran, also living in the junkyard (I hear rents are quite affordable there), has formed a gang of junk thugs to rule the rubbish.

While it’s a face-pinching moment to see dumpster dames engage in garbage sex (I hear flies and maggots are aphrodisiacs in some junkyard countries), it’s when a hobo’s flesh flute falls off (not pictured — I just can’t), and people start throwing it around like a deflated Nathan’s Ballpark Frank™, that’ll have you questioning your taste in movies. (I’m exempt because I’m mentally unplugged.)

Insane, yet colorful gore. Melting hobos. Booze aplenty. Any questions?

NASA Cover-ups, Prank Time Travel, Vampire Trackers

Been thinking of new inventions that would make me a multi-thousandaire (just a few tax brackets away from being a multi-millionaire). I came up with The Lid Loosener™ (possibly already invented under the name of “can opener.” Not a very zingy marketing name.), Mouth Broom™ (same as a toothbrush, but with crazy larger bristles), and the Mud-Flinger™, a new kind of pooper scooper, one that employs catapult technologies to rid one’s lawn of animal “pebbles from heaven” souvenirs.

But the one I firmly believe will get me an in-ground swimming pool with all the trimmings (long hose, case of artificial food coloring, water), is my latest get-rich-right-now scheme: NASA Cover-ups™ — blacked out government UFO documents you can use to mask flying saucer-shaped table stains and/or use to put your refreshing adult beverages on to keep from staining the aforementioned Ikea™ table with one leg longer than the others.

Until I’m able to secure a patent number (or “No.”), here are a few upcoming horror/sci-fi movies that may or may not enrich your pool or wallet…

PSYCHOTIC! (January 26, 2018)
“This suspenseful psychedelic slasher follows a group of hard-partying Brooklyn hipsters as they’re stalked and savagely murdered by a masked maniac known as the Bushwick Party Killer. It’s up to struggling artists Tim and Stuart to figure out who keeps killing the life of the party.”

Hard-partying hipsters? Does that mean they drink three Zimas™ instead of two before passing out at a Rave? Comb their mall styled hair in an opposing direction? Use trendy/trending swear words they found on the Internet? Probably all of the above.

ALTERED CARBON (February 2, 2018/Netflix™)
“Altered Carbon is an intriguing story of murder, love, sex, and betrayal, set more than 300 years in the future. Society has been transformed by new technology: consciousness can be digitized; human bodies are interchangeable; death is no longer permanent.”

I wish my carbon to be altered as soon as future science is able. I’d transfer my digital leavings into a WWE wrestler husk host and recycle my former skin bag in the toilet/garbage disposal/neighbor’s yard (see “Mud-Flinger™”)

CURVATURE (February 23, 2018)
“A scientist must break into a top-secret facility in order to travel back in time and prevent a murder after receiving a mysterious phone call from herself.”

If it was me, I’d probably make a crank phone call to myself. (No doubt I’d fall for it, too.) Still, wish I could travel back in time, though. Two things would happen — I’d never have to wash my pants. That, and I’d be able to re-drink the same refreshing adult beverage over and over without paying for it more than once. Traveling through time is sweet.

THE WANDERERS: QUEST OF THE DEMON HUNTER (March, 2018/UK)
“Experienced vampire hunter Louis Moudon and his companion, a journalist, arrive in an isolated village in Transylvania to investigate the mystery surrounding a strange event. Along with their guide, young local Sorana, and the reality show team, they will find out that the villagers are experiencing a terrible dread. Louis will soon have to face a totally surprising discovery.”

The title is too long. Tried saying it out loud and my tongue got tired halfway through and just hung out of my mouth like a piece of pre-sliced bologna. If I was an experienced vampire hunter (oh, wait — I am), I’d insist on changing the movie’s title to In The NECK of Time.