Sleepaway Camp - 1983's Low Budget Horror Fil Still Has a Cult Following
Sleepaway Camp is a low-budget horror movie released in 1983, directed by Robert Hiltzik. The film is about a shy and withdrawn teenage girl named Angela Baker who goes to a summer camp with her cousin, Ricky. However, the summer camp is plagued by a series of gruesome murders, and it soon becomes clear that Angela may be the one responsible for the killings.
The making of Sleepaway Camp was a challenging process due to its limited budget of around $350,000. Robert Hiltzik had never directed a feature film before, and he had to rely on a team of inexperienced actors and crew members to bring his vision to life.
The movie was shot in just four weeks during the summer of 1982 in a real summer camp located in New York's Adirondack Mountains. The cast and crew all lived on-site during the shoot, which helped to create a sense of community and camaraderie.
One of the biggest challenges was finding the right actors to play the lead roles. For the character of Angela, Hiltzik auditioned over 1,000 girls before finally choosing Felissa Rose, who was just 13 years old at the time. For the role of Ricky, he cast Jonathan Tiersten, who had no prior acting experience.
Another challenge was the special effects, which had to be done on a shoestring budget. The makeup effects were created by Ed French, who had previously worked on horror movies such as The Thing and An American Werewolf in London. French used a variety of techniques, including prosthetics and practical effects, to create the gruesome death scenes.
Despite the challenges, Sleepaway Camp became a cult classic and is considered one of the most iconic horror movies of the 1980s. Its shocking twist ending has become one of the most talked-about moments in horror movie history. The film has since spawned several sequels and a devoted fanbase.
The final scene of the original 1983 horror movie "Sleepaway Camp" is infamous for its shocking twist ending. To avoid spoilers, I will not provide any details about the ending itself. However, I can tell you about how the scene was filmed.
According to various sources, including interviews with the movie's cast and crew, the final scene was shot using a body double for the main character, Angela. The actress who played Angela throughout the rest of the movie was not used for this scene, as the filmmakers wanted to keep the twist ending a secret from the audience and even from some of the cast and crew.
The body double used in the final scene was reportedly a young male who had a similar build and physique to the actress who played Angela. The body double wore a wig and makeup to resemble Angela, and the scene was filmed from behind to conceal the fact that it was not the actress playing the role.
The scene was shot in one take, and the body double was reportedly very nervous and uncomfortable during the filming. Nevertheless, the scene was a success, and the shocking ending has become one of the most memorable moments in horror movie history.