Sleepaway Camp Collectors Edition Bluray / DVD Review
If you don’t know the story of Sleepaway Camp, the plot revolves around Angela, an introvert to end all introverts who lives with her smart-mouthed cousin Ricky and her unbelievably bizarre Aunt Martha. When she’s about 13 she goes to summer camp with Ricky and after being mercilessly picked on by a lot of the other kids, campers start getting slaughtered in droves. Who’s behind the murders and why are they happening now?
As most of you know Scream Factory have been unbeatable when it comes to doing re-releases of well-known or cult horror and sci-fi flicks. This is at least the tenth bluray I’ve purchased from them and I am, again, more than pleased with the final result. The film has literally never looked better. Using the original camera negative, a 2K scan was done to bring out the best possible picture quality of this low-budget fright flick. The 1:78:1, 1080p HD transfer is nearly flawless and far better than anything us die-hard fans have been watching all these years. The colors are bright and aside from the occasional imperfection coming through from the original negative, the picture is wonderful. Being a transfer from the negative this is the first time many fans will see the completely un-cut version of the film. Not seen since the original theatrical and VHS releases. All previous dvd releases had minor edits throughout.
We also get a solid remastered soundtrack, it is Mono Master Audio, so don’t expect your surround sound to make anything too special of it, but you can still blast the screams, stabbings and score. Speaking of which, the bizarre and jarring music composed by Edward Bilous has never sounded more ominous and really has a new life here.
Included in this excellent edition are two(!) brand new audio commentaries with Felissa Rose (Angela) and Jonathon Tiersten (Ricky), writer/director Robert Hiltzik, moderated by fan-site webmaster Jeff Hayes and if you were a fan, like myself, of the original audio commentary with Robert Hiltzik, Felissa Rose and Jeff Hayes, it’s still here as well. I’m really looking forward to watching it again listening to all three commentaries. A new comprehensive look at the film, “At the Waterfront After the Social: The Legacy of Sleepaway Camp” includes new interviews with both members of the cast and crew that give us interesting insight into the making of the film. Being one to know too much about certain movies, I love new anecdotes I’ve never heard before. Scream Factory always delivers with the interviews and they’ve done it again here.
Other fun inclusions are the brand-new cover art (pictured above) beautifully done by Nathan Thomas Milliner, Camp Arawak Scrapbook: a slideshow of production stills and marketing pieces, a music video by Jonathon Tiersten for his song “Princess” and a short film, entitled “Judy” by webmaster Jeff Hayes which has Karen Fields reprising her infamous role. “Judy” could have been better, but it’s still a fun extra for the disc. Along with all these extras, there are also featurettes detailing all the hard work that was put into revitalizing this much loved slasher.
This is an absolute must-buy for fans of the film, there’s no other way to put it. Scream Factory has done it again! And if you’ve never seen Sleepaway Camp and love 80s slashers, I can’t think of a better introduction. Besides, what are you waiting for?! I know how hard it is to go into something fresh in this era of internet spoilers, but if you you’ve somehow dodged any for this film you need to see it asap.
Meet me at the waterfront, after the social…and bring this movie with you.
