Welcome to Camp Arawak
- Author
- Ambrose
- Published
- Fri 25 Jul 2025
- Episode Link
- None
Ever watch a movie ending so shocking it made you spit out your popcorn, question your sanity, and wonder if therapy might be necessary? Today on The THING about Films, we're revisiting the summer camp horror classic that left everyone traumatized back in '83—the infamous and unforgettable Sleepaway Camp. We're diving headfirst into the awkward acting, the bizarre kills, the controversial themes, and one of the most jaw-dropping final scenes in horror history. Trust us, you won't wanna miss this trip back to Camp Arawak.
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In This Episode, We Discuss:
- The Uncanny Camp Aesthetic: How Sleepaway Camp's "flaws"—from its shoestring budget and bizarre subplots to its awkward dialogue—became its greatest strengths and cemented its cult status.
- A Different Kind of Slasher: We break down how the film subverts typical slasher tropes, including its surprising sexualization of male characters and its uniquely creative kills.
- The Kids Aren't Alright: A look at the cast of actual young teenagers, including a 13-year-old Felissa Rose, and how their raw, sometimes "terrible," performances add a disturbing layer of realism to the horror.
- The Ending That Changed Everything: We explore the build-up, the execution, and the lasting legacy of one of cinema's most shocking and talked-about twists (without spoiling it for new viewers!).
Behind-the-Scenes & Fun Facts:
- The hands of the killer seen throughout the film actually belong to actor Jonathan Tiersten (Ricky), not Felissa Rose (Angela).
- A local college kid was used as a body double for the final, deeply unsettling shot and reportedly needed a six-pack of beer for liquid courage.
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