by Mike Lera
Sleepaway Camp’s 40th Reunion
by Mike Lera
Cult horror films dating back a few decades have either faded into VHS oblivion or continue to stand the test of time. For many of these low budget, 2 a.m. monster movies that have become successful trademarks, it is not their “Oscar-winning” acting or “Rick Baker-esque” effects that keeps them preserved, but rather, their memorable “random” scenes, corny-but-quotable dialogue and “meant-to-be-serious-yet-silly” characters.
1983’s Sleepaway Camp embodies all these endearing and enduring elements, from campers found with skinned, dismembered bodies to kids stung to death by killer bees, acquiring an entire new generation of fans and followers. Love it or hate it, there’s something about this quirky, creepy little film that just sorta… grows on you – like poison ivy – one of those flicks that many a Gen-Xer stumbled upon while browsing Blockbuster or a friend’s poster wall.In commemorating its 40th anniversary, Sleepaway Camp cast members Felissa “Angela” Rose, Karen “Judy” Fields, Katherine “Meg” Kamhi, Christopher “Paul” Collet and Tom “Mike” van Dell reunited recently at the 11th annual Son of Monsterpalooza Oct. 15th in Burbank, CA, signing autographs and posing for pics for the legions of “Camp Arawak” groupies. A photograph highlight was of SC’s star Felissa Rose (looking as fresh as her 13-year-old self in the film, her last name suiting her well), holding her iconic “gaping face” replica beside her own in recreating one of the most shocking and disturbing endings in horror movie history.
Yours truly was fortunate to attend a Sleepaway Camp reunion/Q&A panel with its main cast, the actors sharing an assortment of behind-the-scenes tales and reminiscing over their “excursions” in campfire powwow fashion.
Moderated by cult movie legend Frank Dietz, the following are a few Q&A’s from the panel, with a couple of questions I managed to toss into the pit. You can also check out my video of the panel on my YouTube channel @MikeLera.
Warning: *Spoiler Alert* for the non-SC devotees here.
Frank Dietz: Let’s talk about the controversial “Crying Game” surprise ending – was that really your face?
Felissa Rose: The close-ups were me, but [our special effects artist] Ed French made a mask of my face and he put it on a young 18-year-old boy who went to college in the area. They paid him $250 to shave his body and stand with the mask. He drank a bottle of Jack Daniels and cried the entire night!
FD: What was up with the “Aunt Martha” (played by the late Desiree Gould) character?? Was it a conscious decision by [writer/director] Robert Hiltzik for her to be completely over the top?
Felissa: [Desiree] actually declined the role several times. Robert said, ‘I don’t wanna make this movie without you’. So she said, ‘Fine, I’ll do it’. So when they put her in that amazing outfit, she then said, ‘Now I reeeally don’t wanna do this’. Robert kept saying that her part needed to be bigger and more over the top, and she was terrified and kept wondering if it was too much or too crazy. But once her own personality settled in, he felt her character set the tone for the film. Rest in peace, Desiree Gould [applause].
Mike Lera: Any thoughts about Pamela Springsteen taking over your role for Sleepaway Camps 2 and 3?
Felissa: I love her and I think she did an incredible job. I read for Michael Simpson, the director of the sequels – and I sucked [audience laughs]. Basically, they handed me the script and she was such a funny character and I was used to the awkward, shy quiet girl. And I was like, ‘I don’t think this is really for me’. Michael loved Pamela at the time, and I was going off to college, so it seemed like a perfect fit. She was fantastic!
ML: What was your most memorable SC scene?
Felissa: It would have to be the “rec hall scene”, where the guys are making fun of me and saying, ‘Yo Angela, why’re you so [messed] up?!’ It was sooo much fun hanging out with Chris Collet, who played Paul. And then there was that moment in the scene where I actually got to speak in the film, and said [softly], “Good night.”