Sleepaway Camp

On the surface “Sleepaway Camp” (1983) is a clone of the first two “Friday the 13th” movies (1980/1981) mixed with elements of “Meatballs” (1979), but with more edge. Like the first “Friday the 13th,” the killer is a mystery until the end. Like “Meatballs,” the youths at the camp are adolescents, including pubescents. Kids of this ilk didn’t manifest in the Friday the 13th franchise until Part VI (1986) and, even then, they weren’t the focus. In 1975, John Baker and his boyfriend Lenny take John's children, Angela and Peter, on a boating trip. After the boat capsizes, John and the children try to swim to shore, but they swim into the path of a reckless motorboat and are struck. Eight years later, Angela is traumatized and lives with her eccentric aunt, Dr. Martha Thomas, and cousin Ricky Thomas. Angela's introverted nature makes her a target for bullying by fellow camper Judy and camp counselor Meg, but Ronnie Angelo and Susie are nice to her. The head cook, Artie, attempts to sexually assault her, but Ricky intervenes. Later, an unseen figure causes Artie to be severely scalded by boiling water.