Sleepaway Camp

Cast:  Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Paul DeAngelo, Mike Kellin, Katherine Kamhi, Karen Fields, Christopher Collet

Director:  Robert Hiltzig

1983

Sleepaway Camp is a cult classic from the heyday of slasher flicks, attempting to copycat the horrific atmosphere of camp life, a la Friday The 13th, but not attaining the true horror or mystery of the original Friday The 13th.  Sleepaway Camp was mildly successful in theaters and is often cited as one of the most memorable twist endings in a horror film of the 80's.  The film does offer a few unique styles of kill but much of the bloodshed doesn't come till the second half. 



Story:  Camp Arawak falls victim to several deaths, at first seeming accidental, but later realized that there is indeed a serial killer amongst the group.

Gay Factors:  The gay factor is relatively small, yet risque considering the film comes from the conservative 80's and from a genre that even today hasn't fully embraced the use of gay characters in mainstream horror.  Overall, there are 2 gay men and 1 crossdresser....

The film opens with two questionable men, out for a boating adventure with the two kids.  The men's relationship is later confirmed with a scene of the two men in bed together....

*SPOILER ALERT*  At the film's end, it is revealled that Angela is anatomically a boy, Peter.  When the real Angela died, their mother raised Peter as Angela, "the girl she always wanted."  Once this revelation is known, it does add a bit more gayness to the storyline in looking back....Angela did embrace (although shy and fearfully) exploring a relationship with Paul, holding hands and kissing.  She only turns on him after catching him kissing another girl and hearing that he called her a prude.

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Return To Sleepaway Camp

Cast:  Vincent Pastore, Michael Gibney, Paul DeAngelo, Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, Isaac Hayes, Christopher Shand, Erin Broderick

Director:  Robert Hiltzig

2008



Writer/director/creator of the original Sleepaway Camp, Robert Hiltzig, returns to the healm of this direct to video sequel, ignoring the storylines of the more comedic sequels parts 2 and 3.  Paul DeAngelo reprises his role as camp counselor, Ronnie; Felissa Rose returns as Angela and Jonathan Tiersten returns as the grown up Ricky; all three from the original cult classic.  Also at the forefront of this film is Vincent Pastore, best remembered for his role on The Sopranos and Isaac Hayes plays the chef; Hayes is best remembered by the younger generation for providing the voice of the chef on the raunchy animated comedy, South Park.

The film does find a few new inventive ways of killing but unfortunately too much of the film revolves around the Alan character, who is beyond annoying....whiney, obnoxious and stupid!  The film could have been a hundred times better had they cut back on Alan and thrown in a few more kills.  It's low budget and campy but if you enjoyed the original, you may enjoy this one as well.

Story:  25 years after the killings at Camp Arawak, the camp is now called Camp Manabe.  The kids torment each other as usual but when people start dying, suspicion falls to the bullied Alan, counselor Petey, and even nearby construction worker, Ricky, who was at Camp Arawak during it's massacre.  Ronnie, also a survivor from Camp Arawak, can't shake a paranoia that the current murders are connected to the murders of the past.

Gay Factor:  Very minimal gayness....*SPOILER ALERT* - Killer from the original film, Angela, returns.  Remember Angela was anatomically a boy but raised as a girl.  In this film Angela does appear as a boy for most of the story till the end when he rips off his mask revealling his femine Angela face.

Trailer

Shade And Shadow (2005)

Director:  Gabriel Maitreya

2005


This is a bizzare, low budget horror thriller shot in black & white.  The film never received major distribution although press attention (although limited) was relatively positive.  The director is currently doing a remake of this film and once finished, this original version will no longer be available legally.


Story:  A young widower returns to his chilhood home while mourning the loss of his wife.  There he has retrospective encounters with a masked serveant, a retired film star, an old girlfriend and her boyfriend, and a filmmaker in the guise of a rotting bird.

Gay Factor:  Questionable relationship between the two male leads who share a kiss and a bizarre fantasy sequence of them naked and covering each other in barbeque sauce.  Male nudity.

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1313: Giant Killer Bees

Cast:  Derek North, Jillian Nelson, Adam Phebus, Darren Thomas, Alberto Frezza, Carey James, Tanner Novlan, Jarrid Balis, Raine Parsons-Wright

Director:  David DeCoteau

2011



Another B-Movie from cult director, David DeCoteau, this time advertised as a sci-fi thriller continuing DeCoteau's 1313 horror franchise.  DeCoteau reinterprets H.G. Wells' classic Food Of The Gods.  The acting is awful, the plot is thinner than paper, but does anyone really watch DeCoteau for an intense plot?  The guys are hot!


Story:  Genetically enhanced killer bees are the downfall of society, cause of the end of the world, turning everyone into zombies.

Gay Factor:  No gay characters, but typical DeCoteau homoerotica - 2 shower scenes and hot guys running around in their white boxer briefs.

Carey James

Alberto Frezza

Derek North

Alberto Frezza & Carey James attack Adam Phebus

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