This is a passable slasher movie filled with boobs and flashbacks. It's a who done it kind of movie. Good enough for a one time watch but maybe I'll revisit it again for fun.
65 Reviews
Give me a C O R Y.
treakle_197826 June 2019
camp trivia classic to the max
L. Lion22 April 1999
Is it terrible? Errr, yeah. Do they really have such things as Cheerleader Camps? The plot is remarkable for a teen slasher movie: not only do the slashing at a summer camp, but it is a summer camp for CHEERLEADERS!
Just the fact that cheerleaders are getting slashed at a summer camp is enough to bring a smile to the face of anyone who loves terrible 80's teen movies, but it is the CASTING that elevates this one to the top of the heap. They have dragged out some of the most bedraggled early 80's teen icons for roles in this. Under what rock did they find Leif Garrett? He doesn't even have a chance to sing. In case you're not up on your trivia, Leif was Brooke Shield's first boyfriend when she was a 13-year old sex symbol (although it was Dean Cain that got to break her in at Princeton). Leif was a Tiger Beat and 16 Magazine staple of the late 70's, battling it out for column space with the Bay City Rollers and even released an album that was a hit, including some of the least inspired Beach Boys covers ever. Then he completely disappeared to the C. Thomas Howell nether regions, only much deeper than C. Thomas has delved. In the Brooke Shields role we have Betsy Russell, who was kind to Phoebe Cates what Phoebe Cates was to Brooke Shields in the early 80's. Rounding out the casting coup are two Playboy Playmates, which is always good for the trivia buff, especially when one of them is Terry Weigel, the only playmate I know of who went on to make hardcore porn. I don't have anything bad to say about Lucinda Dickey, except the idea that the MASCOT also goes to cheerleader camp was just too inspired for words. It simply can't be expressed the joy I get knowing that this film exists. It is a pinnacle of its sort.
Just the fact that cheerleaders are getting slashed at a summer camp is enough to bring a smile to the face of anyone who loves terrible 80's teen movies, but it is the CASTING that elevates this one to the top of the heap. They have dragged out some of the most bedraggled early 80's teen icons for roles in this. Under what rock did they find Leif Garrett? He doesn't even have a chance to sing. In case you're not up on your trivia, Leif was Brooke Shield's first boyfriend when she was a 13-year old sex symbol (although it was Dean Cain that got to break her in at Princeton). Leif was a Tiger Beat and 16 Magazine staple of the late 70's, battling it out for column space with the Bay City Rollers and even released an album that was a hit, including some of the least inspired Beach Boys covers ever. Then he completely disappeared to the C. Thomas Howell nether regions, only much deeper than C. Thomas has delved. In the Brooke Shields role we have Betsy Russell, who was kind to Phoebe Cates what Phoebe Cates was to Brooke Shields in the early 80's. Rounding out the casting coup are two Playboy Playmates, which is always good for the trivia buff, especially when one of them is Terry Weigel, the only playmate I know of who went on to make hardcore porn. I don't have anything bad to say about Lucinda Dickey, except the idea that the MASCOT also goes to cheerleader camp was just too inspired for words. It simply can't be expressed the joy I get knowing that this film exists. It is a pinnacle of its sort.
Has everything a Slasher needs.
insomniac_rod22 December 2006
God Bless "USA Up All Night". I was cleaning my room when suddenly a box filled with VHS appeared. I decided to dust if off and I found some movies I taped over the years. One of them was "Cheerleader Camp" when it was presented on "Up All Night".
This little slasher flick offers some black humor jokes and some decent gory death scenes.
You shouldn't care for the plot as you might have guessed. You only need to know that an "unseen" maniac is on the cheerleader camp prowling, and killing cheerleaders. Well that's until you find out -easily- the killer's identity.
Expect some cheesy dialogues, good humor, and thank God, nudity. This slasher has all the winning ingredients and that's why it's among the most see slashers from the 80's.
Highly recommended if you are into low production values, bad acting -putrid acting-, horrible music, weak direction, etc. Overall, trash cinema. Still, it's the 80's so it's great.
This little slasher flick offers some black humor jokes and some decent gory death scenes.
You shouldn't care for the plot as you might have guessed. You only need to know that an "unseen" maniac is on the cheerleader camp prowling, and killing cheerleaders. Well that's until you find out -easily- the killer's identity.
Expect some cheesy dialogues, good humor, and thank God, nudity. This slasher has all the winning ingredients and that's why it's among the most see slashers from the 80's.
Highly recommended if you are into low production values, bad acting -putrid acting-, horrible music, weak direction, etc. Overall, trash cinema. Still, it's the 80's so it's great.
One of the better Slashers Ive seen
fanqarm7 October 2003
Yes, Cheerleader Camp is a bit cheesy, but I feel it's one of the better slashers I've seen. In the tradition of Sleepaway Camp type movies, it really delivers comically as well as the suspense and horror. Laden with mid 80's sex and shenanigans, snobby cheerleaders, creepy care-takers and the lovable, overweight video voyeur Timmy. How could anyone refuse?
Although I feared that Leif Garret would destroy the authenticity of the movie, after the first five minutes I realized it could not be done. He really captured the sleazy boyfriend persona quite well. And I was really happy to see Lucinda Dickey (from Breakin' & Breakin' 2) as 'Cory' the team mascot.
So if you ever see this in a video store, be sure to rent it. But don't hold out on trying to locate the sequel. There's a rumor that it doesn't even exist. Maybe Uma Thurman knows.. She supposedly starred in it.
Although I feared that Leif Garret would destroy the authenticity of the movie, after the first five minutes I realized it could not be done. He really captured the sleazy boyfriend persona quite well. And I was really happy to see Lucinda Dickey (from Breakin' & Breakin' 2) as 'Cory' the team mascot.
So if you ever see this in a video store, be sure to rent it. But don't hold out on trying to locate the sequel. There's a rumor that it doesn't even exist. Maybe Uma Thurman knows.. She supposedly starred in it.
"Fleshy" horror flick.
gridoon27 October 2002
This is supposed to be a horror film, but the filmmakers were obviously too preoccupied with the oodles of (first-rate, I must admit) nudity and sex-related jokes to care very much about the "horror" aspect. The film does have at least one astonishingly gory scene, but the killer's identity is painfully predictable; it's practically spelled out for you. Betsy Russell's performance is better than this film deserves. Seriously. (**)
Blood sprayed cheerleader spirit.
lost-in-limbo5 May 2010
Give me a F, give me a U, give me a N. Yes
FUN. Nothing more. Nothing less. Senseless, over-the-top, but fun. Probably too much fun? In its investment for energy, it really did play up the textbook gags and fooling around for the majority of the time. Teenagers will always be teenagers --- well what else would you do at Camp Hurrah. Anyhow the straight-to-video "Cheerleader Camp" is a low-budget b-grade late 80s slasher / sex comedy item opting for numerous semi-nude shots (especially when you got the likes of Teri Weigel and Krista Pflanzer in the cast), tacky blood splatter and a very tongue-cheek-approach to its traditional material. In which case much needed, because some of the cheesy dialogues can be eye-rolling and it stars a former teen idol Leif Garrett. The style is similar to other such campy slashers within the same period; "Return to Horror High" (1987) and "Cutting Class" (1989). The plot enters in a protagonist with a traumatically stressful mind, throws around typical red herrings (memorably enjoyable character turns by George 'Buck' Flowers and Vickie Benson), suspiciously telegraphed activities, absurd occurrences (like those odd dream sequences) and a silly revelation going on to a twisted ending. Everything feels purposely blatant. Director John Quinn's execution might be lumpy, but it's breezily paced and enthusiastically captured. Also the camera-work achieves some inventive angles, especially early on. The always enviable Besty Russell heads the cult cast with Lucinda Dickey (spending a bit time in a costume), Rebecca Ferratti, Travis McKenna and a delightful Lorie Griffin.
Stale late 80's slasher starts kinda goofy, but turns serious
Wuchakk13 April 2023
High school students in SoCal go to cheerleading camp in the remote Sequoia National Forest where they tragically start dying one by one. Who's the killer? Will any make it back alive?
"Cheerleader Camp" (1988) is a whodunnit slasher that mixes cheerleading antics with elements of the "Friday the 13th" flicks and "The Burning" (1981), not to mention "Sleepaway Camp" (1983). "Body Count" (1986) also comes to mind.
I had a bad attitude at first because there was some campy humor along the lines of "Friday the 13th Part III" (1982) and "Friday the 13th Part V" (1985), mostly revolving around the overweight character and the female camp director, not to mention the Englund-like Handyman, albeit less so. In other words, I thought the movie was going to be a full-on joke, but the comedic bits only revolve around those characters and the flick takes a dark turn in the second half.
Also, it actually deals with some pretty heavy themes despite being an 80's slasher with a dash of sex humor. For instance, there are reflections on anxiety, competition/rivalry, relationship abuse, alcoholism, deception, manipulation and false testimony.
I was halfway through when it occurred to me that one of the male characters was Leif Garrett, the former teenage heartthrob of the late 70s. Here he is at 26 (during shooting) playing a high school student and he's effective enough.
Lorie Griffin stands out on the female front as Bonnie. You might remember her from her memorable role in "Teen Wolf" (1985). The female cast is decent - also including Rebecca Ferratti (Theresa), Betsy Russell (Alison) and Vickie Benson (Miss Tipton) - but the director evidently didn't know how to shoot women (no pun intended).
So, this is worthwhile enough to check out if you like 80's slashers, but you have to roll with its hackneyed shortcomings.
The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Bakersfield and Sequoia National Forest, California, which is about an hour's drive northeast of there.
GRADE: C+
"Cheerleader Camp" (1988) is a whodunnit slasher that mixes cheerleading antics with elements of the "Friday the 13th" flicks and "The Burning" (1981), not to mention "Sleepaway Camp" (1983). "Body Count" (1986) also comes to mind.
I had a bad attitude at first because there was some campy humor along the lines of "Friday the 13th Part III" (1982) and "Friday the 13th Part V" (1985), mostly revolving around the overweight character and the female camp director, not to mention the Englund-like Handyman, albeit less so. In other words, I thought the movie was going to be a full-on joke, but the comedic bits only revolve around those characters and the flick takes a dark turn in the second half.
Also, it actually deals with some pretty heavy themes despite being an 80's slasher with a dash of sex humor. For instance, there are reflections on anxiety, competition/rivalry, relationship abuse, alcoholism, deception, manipulation and false testimony.
I was halfway through when it occurred to me that one of the male characters was Leif Garrett, the former teenage heartthrob of the late 70s. Here he is at 26 (during shooting) playing a high school student and he's effective enough.
Lorie Griffin stands out on the female front as Bonnie. You might remember her from her memorable role in "Teen Wolf" (1985). The female cast is decent - also including Rebecca Ferratti (Theresa), Betsy Russell (Alison) and Vickie Benson (Miss Tipton) - but the director evidently didn't know how to shoot women (no pun intended).
So, this is worthwhile enough to check out if you like 80's slashers, but you have to roll with its hackneyed shortcomings.
The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Bakersfield and Sequoia National Forest, California, which is about an hour's drive northeast of there.
GRADE: C+
Bring it on, Cheese-leaders!
Coventry20 February 2006
For once, this stereotypical 80's horror movie is not just set in a sport-crazy American high school or at a summertime camp but in.... a combination of both!! An actual cheerleader camp! Do these really exist? Anyway, this setting means there's a double portion of clichés, dumb teenager jokes and naked breasts guaranteed, so it can't be all bad, right? The opening sequence, which seems to come straight from a "Nightmare on Elm Street" sequel, gives us the false impression that "Cheerleader Camp" might be more ambitious than the usual 80's slasher, but it rapidly turns into a silly and by-the-numbers horror comedy. A group of competitive high school girls and two incredibly dumb males attend a camp where the best group (including their mascot) can win tickets for the national cheer leading contest...or something. Of course, their main concern quickly becomes surviving, as there's a vicious killer around as well. The best thing you can say about this film probably is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. The murders only occur halfway through the film because the opening is too busy playing out the fat guy pranks! Travis McKenna (who truly has a gigantic bottom) is more than just a comic relief; he "fills up" the first 40 minutes of this film with vulgar fat-guy behavior, like videotaping the girls sun bathing topless and "mooning" the entire camp through the windows of his van. There's absolutely no attempt to build up tension and the murders are delightfully cheesy. Quite gory, but certainly not unsettling and only diverting your attention from the lousy storyline. The killer's identity is so easily predictable and even the typecasting of Buck Flower as the eerie old janitor couldn't possibly make you doubt.
Solid Mystery, but Falls Short of Hitting the Mark
Reviews_of_the_Dead9 June 2020
This was a movie that I actually remember seeing at the video store growing up, but it never hooked me enough to rent. Mind you, I was probably avoiding renting it knowing that my father probably would veto this one, as blood and gore wasn't an issue, but nudity kind of was back when I would have possible checked this out. I know I heard about this on podcasts, but it had been awhile since then and didn't remember much. The synopsis here is a group of cheerleaders become the targets of an unknown killer at remote summer camp.
We start this movie off during what I could clearly tell was a nightmare from the beginning. Alison Wentworth (Betsy Russell) is trying to find her locker in a dark, empty room and we hear the P.A. announcer calling out they're waiting. This voice is doing this over and over. She goes up to the football field to do a cheer, but keeps getting it wrong. The issue is that it is only her mother and father in the crowd. They leave and she calls out that she just wants love. She is then cut from her pom-poms on her forearms.
She then wakes up screaming. She is actually in a van with the rest of her cheer squad. Her boyfriend is driving, Brent Hoover (Leif Garrett) with his best friend Timmy Moser (Travis McKenna) riding shotgun. He's overweight and kind of a pervert. Also on the team are the mascot, Cory Foster (Lucinda Dickey), the ditzy blonde Bonnie Reed (Lorie Griffin), the beautiful, yet slutty Pamela Bently (Teri Weigel) and then her best friend Theresa Salazar (Rebecca Ferratti). It is common knowledge that Alison is the favorite to win queen at the cheerleading camp this year, but the problem is that she is mentally unstable and everyone knows about her nightmares.
They arrive and get checked in by Miss Tipton (Vickie Benson). The group sizes up their competition, which includes Suzy (Krista Pflanzer). Alison also has competition on her own squad as Brent is looking to hook up with Suzy or whoever will, as Alison is shutting him down. Pamela also wants what she has. The only true friend she has is Cory, but Alison isn't the nicest to her.
Things take the dark turn when Suzy is found dead in her room by Alison. The thought is that she killed herself, but Alison isn't so sure. She also doesn't trust Miss Tipton or her two helpers, the caretaker of the camp Pop (George 'Buck' Flower) or Chief Ronnie (William Johnson). What really happened to Alison and will it happen again?
Now this movie is kind of intriguing to me. This is at the tail end of the slasher boom, where they were starting to use more comedy in them. I would say for this movie, it harkens back more to the slashers when they were like giallo films in the regards that we don't who the killer is at first and it is kind of sleazy.
I wasn't surprised digging into this movie that John Quinn would go on to do softcore porn you'd find on things like HBO or Cinemax, as this feels like a rauchy sex comedy that has giallo elements. That is where a lot of the sleaze comes from as well. Timmy is a perv, dressing up like a woman to see girls naked, peeping through the window to see Miss Tipton with Sheriff Poucher (Jeff Prettyman). The sheriff and Pop are looking at these high school girls and it is pretty misogynistic if I'm going to be honest. I won't come down too hard as this is the 80's, but it did make me feel a bit uncomfortable, since they are much older than the girls they're ogling.
With that out of the way, I didn't mind the mystery of the movie. We have Alison who has nightmares and thinks that she killed Suzy. No one else does, but she keeps having these odd dreams. When others start to go missing, she knows something happened. What I like though is the reveal, especially with how they do it. The problem is that they take too long to get us there in my opinion. The first death we don't get to see, we just see the aftermath to it. We don't go back to this until a little over halfway through. I think this is a misstep in my eyes, because I was bored. The jokes weren't really landing and the nudity only goes so far to be honest.
Once we do get the deaths though, they are fine. There's a death with a hedge-clipper through the mouth that I liked. That is really about it though. The rest from what I remember are done off-screen. We get to see the aftermath is it. The blood is a bit too red as well. Since they went practical though, I'll let that slide. We also get a lot of dream sequences, which I'll also let slide. It is part of the story and it leads to Alison going crazy until we see the truth. The cinematography is fine. We do get to see the killer point of view shots, which helps with that slasher feel.
The last thing to cover here would be the acting. It was fun to see a young Russell as I really only know her from the Saw series. She is quite attractive and her performance is fine. It was funny to see Garrett in this movie as I know he was a teen star and really fell from grace. I didn't like his character, along with Flower, McKenna, Prettyman and Johnson. They're all quite misogynistic and really look at the women like objects. There isn't much redeemable for me to like them aside from Flower just being a great character actor. I thought Dickey and Griffin play their roles fine. It is interesting to see Weigel, who I know went on to do porn from here. Makes sense why she goes topless along with a former Penthouse pet in Pflanzer. The acting though is really just subpar in general.
Now with that said, this movie does have some interesting aspects, but it just doesn't really work. I like the mystery they were working with, even though I predicted the reveal within the first 20 minutes. This does bring that sleazy feel you get from slashers or giallo films, which I do have a bit of a soft spot for. The acting though is subpar, it is boring and just plays like a not very good rauchy sex comedy. The deaths are mostly off screen and that is a shame. The soundtrack also didn't really stand out, but it doesn't hurt the movie either. I'd say this is below average unfortunately and can only recommend this if you liked it from back in the day or just want something wild to laugh to with drinks personally.
We start this movie off during what I could clearly tell was a nightmare from the beginning. Alison Wentworth (Betsy Russell) is trying to find her locker in a dark, empty room and we hear the P.A. announcer calling out they're waiting. This voice is doing this over and over. She goes up to the football field to do a cheer, but keeps getting it wrong. The issue is that it is only her mother and father in the crowd. They leave and she calls out that she just wants love. She is then cut from her pom-poms on her forearms.
She then wakes up screaming. She is actually in a van with the rest of her cheer squad. Her boyfriend is driving, Brent Hoover (Leif Garrett) with his best friend Timmy Moser (Travis McKenna) riding shotgun. He's overweight and kind of a pervert. Also on the team are the mascot, Cory Foster (Lucinda Dickey), the ditzy blonde Bonnie Reed (Lorie Griffin), the beautiful, yet slutty Pamela Bently (Teri Weigel) and then her best friend Theresa Salazar (Rebecca Ferratti). It is common knowledge that Alison is the favorite to win queen at the cheerleading camp this year, but the problem is that she is mentally unstable and everyone knows about her nightmares.
They arrive and get checked in by Miss Tipton (Vickie Benson). The group sizes up their competition, which includes Suzy (Krista Pflanzer). Alison also has competition on her own squad as Brent is looking to hook up with Suzy or whoever will, as Alison is shutting him down. Pamela also wants what she has. The only true friend she has is Cory, but Alison isn't the nicest to her.
Things take the dark turn when Suzy is found dead in her room by Alison. The thought is that she killed herself, but Alison isn't so sure. She also doesn't trust Miss Tipton or her two helpers, the caretaker of the camp Pop (George 'Buck' Flower) or Chief Ronnie (William Johnson). What really happened to Alison and will it happen again?
Now this movie is kind of intriguing to me. This is at the tail end of the slasher boom, where they were starting to use more comedy in them. I would say for this movie, it harkens back more to the slashers when they were like giallo films in the regards that we don't who the killer is at first and it is kind of sleazy.
I wasn't surprised digging into this movie that John Quinn would go on to do softcore porn you'd find on things like HBO or Cinemax, as this feels like a rauchy sex comedy that has giallo elements. That is where a lot of the sleaze comes from as well. Timmy is a perv, dressing up like a woman to see girls naked, peeping through the window to see Miss Tipton with Sheriff Poucher (Jeff Prettyman). The sheriff and Pop are looking at these high school girls and it is pretty misogynistic if I'm going to be honest. I won't come down too hard as this is the 80's, but it did make me feel a bit uncomfortable, since they are much older than the girls they're ogling.
With that out of the way, I didn't mind the mystery of the movie. We have Alison who has nightmares and thinks that she killed Suzy. No one else does, but she keeps having these odd dreams. When others start to go missing, she knows something happened. What I like though is the reveal, especially with how they do it. The problem is that they take too long to get us there in my opinion. The first death we don't get to see, we just see the aftermath to it. We don't go back to this until a little over halfway through. I think this is a misstep in my eyes, because I was bored. The jokes weren't really landing and the nudity only goes so far to be honest.
Once we do get the deaths though, they are fine. There's a death with a hedge-clipper through the mouth that I liked. That is really about it though. The rest from what I remember are done off-screen. We get to see the aftermath is it. The blood is a bit too red as well. Since they went practical though, I'll let that slide. We also get a lot of dream sequences, which I'll also let slide. It is part of the story and it leads to Alison going crazy until we see the truth. The cinematography is fine. We do get to see the killer point of view shots, which helps with that slasher feel.
The last thing to cover here would be the acting. It was fun to see a young Russell as I really only know her from the Saw series. She is quite attractive and her performance is fine. It was funny to see Garrett in this movie as I know he was a teen star and really fell from grace. I didn't like his character, along with Flower, McKenna, Prettyman and Johnson. They're all quite misogynistic and really look at the women like objects. There isn't much redeemable for me to like them aside from Flower just being a great character actor. I thought Dickey and Griffin play their roles fine. It is interesting to see Weigel, who I know went on to do porn from here. Makes sense why she goes topless along with a former Penthouse pet in Pflanzer. The acting though is really just subpar in general.
Now with that said, this movie does have some interesting aspects, but it just doesn't really work. I like the mystery they were working with, even though I predicted the reveal within the first 20 minutes. This does bring that sleazy feel you get from slashers or giallo films, which I do have a bit of a soft spot for. The acting though is subpar, it is boring and just plays like a not very good rauchy sex comedy. The deaths are mostly off screen and that is a shame. The soundtrack also didn't really stand out, but it doesn't hurt the movie either. I'd say this is below average unfortunately and can only recommend this if you liked it from back in the day or just want something wild to laugh to with drinks personally.
Russell underrated
metalrox_200029 May 2005
If there had been a bigger budget, this would have been THE slasher flick of the 1980's. It was much better then another camp series, sleepaway camp, and the acting was much better then other b-movies. One thing that worked against it, however,was the rather generic title, and it's alternate title, bloody pom poms, wasn't any better. Had more attention been paid to this movie, Leif Garrett would have been on a major comeback, and Besty Russell, perhaps the least known, and most eye pleasing of any 80's starlet, would have been a a list star. Alas, in 1987, this good movie came and went, while much attention was paid to big studio stinkers like ishtar, The Golden Child, among others. How Besty Russell was never an a list star, is a loss.
Sweet Holy God
Kotter-425 March 2003
I hold the makers of this film personally responsible for the permanent psychological scars this film left on me. First off, let me just say, Lief Garret, should not act in films...EVER! Pornos, travel or cell phone commercials, voice overs on radio, nothing that requires the slightest inkling of talent. Secondly, hiring a man who defies the term "obese", and showing said man, shoving his bare fat ass out of a car window, is a crime against humanity and God. Not just a passing glance either, but a long hard studious, eye-gouging, long shot. Then seeing the sheriff, an aging hairy beast of a man, in nothing but his boxers, nailing the head cheerleader of the camp, for a "touch-down". I ask you...what have I done to these film makers. I've always tried to be good, and live my life accordingly. This movie cannot be described in words. Suffice is nothing compared to the masterpiece that is, "Sorority House Massacre II".
CAMP-tastic!
GaryKurt10112 July 2019
If you've ever wondered what a John Waters Porky's/slasher film mashup would look like, then look no further than Cheerleader Camp. Every performance is ridiculously campy and every character is a bit of a sleaze.
In some ways, it also feels like a slightly more adult Fear Street novel come to life with an extra helping of violence, gore, and boob shots. The acting and directing ranges from pedestrian to downright awful, but the script seems to have a satirical edge to it that's very much welcome and helps separate this film from the other slasher films out there.
Vickie Benson stands out as the impossibly cheerful Miss Tipton who spends the entire film with a deranged pageant girl smile on her face. She delivers a monologue about teen suicide with a gleam in her eye and a twirl of her hair that must be seen to be believed.
Cheerleader Camp also features one of the most downbeat endings this side of Happy Birthday To Me and I certainly wasn't expecting that.
In some ways, it also feels like a slightly more adult Fear Street novel come to life with an extra helping of violence, gore, and boob shots. The acting and directing ranges from pedestrian to downright awful, but the script seems to have a satirical edge to it that's very much welcome and helps separate this film from the other slasher films out there.
Vickie Benson stands out as the impossibly cheerful Miss Tipton who spends the entire film with a deranged pageant girl smile on her face. She delivers a monologue about teen suicide with a gleam in her eye and a twirl of her hair that must be seen to be believed.
Cheerleader Camp also features one of the most downbeat endings this side of Happy Birthday To Me and I certainly wasn't expecting that.
Cheesy and amusing slasher comedy.
HumanoidOfFlesh21 July 2007
The plot of "Cheerleader Camp" is simple:Alison,who strives to be the best goes on a trip with her cheerleading squad to Camp Hurrah to compete in a cheerleading contest.After her boyfriend is caught flirting with other girls,those girls begin to turn up dead,starting with an apparent suicide."Cheerleader Camp" is one of the many slasher flick made in mid 80's.It's fun to watch and surprisingly sleazy,but I think that "Sleepaway Camp" series is even better.There is only a little bit of gore,however there are some lovely girls who show bare breasts quite often.So if you are a fan of slasher flicks give this one a look.It is certainly more enjoyable than "Berserker","Hollow Gate" or similar amateurish crap.7 out of 10.
Complete dud
ODDBear4 September 2008
Well, this is BAD. Truly bad.
Let's do a quick rundown: Suspense: NONE. Creepy atmosphere: Don't think so. Funny: Well, it tries to be but it fails miserably. Gore: Not really, but one star for trying (the scissors bit was admirably done). Nudity: One star in that department.
Maybe we're not expecting first rate acting but a little competence would be nice. All involved are simply horrible and some seem to be in another movie altogether.
On the trivia section for the flick you can see the film was shot in just 24 days. While that is indeed quite an accomplishment and all technical aspects are admirably handled the fact remains that this film is a complete and utter dud.
Let's do a quick rundown: Suspense: NONE. Creepy atmosphere: Don't think so. Funny: Well, it tries to be but it fails miserably. Gore: Not really, but one star for trying (the scissors bit was admirably done). Nudity: One star in that department.
Maybe we're not expecting first rate acting but a little competence would be nice. All involved are simply horrible and some seem to be in another movie altogether.
On the trivia section for the flick you can see the film was shot in just 24 days. While that is indeed quite an accomplishment and all technical aspects are admirably handled the fact remains that this film is a complete and utter dud.
Entertaining For What It Is
Michael_Elliott6 October 2017
Cheerleader Camp (1988)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
All of the best and brightest cheerleaders in the country attend a special camp where they can extend their talents. The only problem is that some sort of madman has also shown up and soon the cheerleaders are dropping dead.
CHEERLEADER CAMP obviously wasn't meant to be taken too serious and it's clear that it was making fun of the slasher genre. This here is basically PORKY'S with an added slice of murder and for the most part the film is entertaining enough to make it worth watching.
What makes the film so entertaining is the cast who manage to be fun and keep you interested in everything that's going on. Of course, all of them are way too old for their parts but this is just something most viewers will be accustom to. The cast really manages to be fun and that's the most important thing.
The filmmakers clearly knew who their target audience was because this works as both a horror film as well as a "teen" comedy. The teen comedy aspect basically has a bunch of beautiful women getting naked and a bunch of horny guys wanting them. The summer camp setting works just fine. As far as the horror elements go, there are actually some rather gory and violent death scenes so gore hounds will be happy as well.
CHEERLEADER CAMP certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a good picture but at the same time it's entertaining enough for what it is.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
All of the best and brightest cheerleaders in the country attend a special camp where they can extend their talents. The only problem is that some sort of madman has also shown up and soon the cheerleaders are dropping dead.
CHEERLEADER CAMP obviously wasn't meant to be taken too serious and it's clear that it was making fun of the slasher genre. This here is basically PORKY'S with an added slice of murder and for the most part the film is entertaining enough to make it worth watching.
What makes the film so entertaining is the cast who manage to be fun and keep you interested in everything that's going on. Of course, all of them are way too old for their parts but this is just something most viewers will be accustom to. The cast really manages to be fun and that's the most important thing.
The filmmakers clearly knew who their target audience was because this works as both a horror film as well as a "teen" comedy. The teen comedy aspect basically has a bunch of beautiful women getting naked and a bunch of horny guys wanting them. The summer camp setting works just fine. As far as the horror elements go, there are actually some rather gory and violent death scenes so gore hounds will be happy as well.
CHEERLEADER CAMP certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a good picture but at the same time it's entertaining enough for what it is.
Funny and moronic little slasher.
Dellamorte_Dellamore0721 July 2005
This movie is so funny. I don't even know where to begin...maybe with a laugh then a groan.
The plot is rather predictable and you don't need psychic vision to know what it's about after seeing the box cover and title. I'm actually going a long way by saying this movie has a plot. After a group of the latest pin up..I mean college cheerleaders (must have all waited quite awhile they looked a day no older then 30) and the token fat guy and Leif Garret (who looks like he spent those paychecks are the nearest bottle of whiskey) get to a camp to compete for some dumb queen thing or blah blah blah, the plot begins to thicken. LOL! Leif Garret instantly starts womanizing RIGHT IN FRONT OF Betsy Russle who is so pilled out and delusional she spends most of her time dreaming utter nonsense of her falling in puddles of mud and mascots dancing around her while you hear "DO IT AGAIN, DO IT AGAIN, HARDER, HARDER", and do'not let me forget the scene where she sees blood on her face and starts crying "NO, MAKE IT STOP", and the next shot it shows her calmly doing a cheer to what appears to be one of the most lamest rap songs I've ever heard. As this is going on, the cannon fodder or Cheerleaders (take ur pick) back stab, try and act, go topless on many occasions, spit "Hip" one liners left and right "Honey on her muffin", and also see random shots of them putting make up and clothes on. They all sure want that crown. There's also a very trampy camp leader who makes it her duty to constantly put these broads down. If the attendance call at the beginning won't make you laugh, then the scenes where she gets loaded sure will. There's also other eighties b-movie trade marks such as Buck Flower and raunchy sex humor sleazing the place up.
Eventually the film makers remember their making a slasher and some of the chicks begin to die. One girl is set up to look as if it's suicide and for the rest of the movie all they recall her as is "that suicide girl", one bimbo after a side splitting scene of "But do you really care about me" monologue gets garden shears in the mouth, another gets run down with a van, and the token fat guy literally gets his gut torn open with a scythe. After all of this Betsy Russel and Leif Garret decide to have champagne by the fire side and talk about their relationship. WTF is going here?...hilarious.
The gore is pretty basic, though at times will give the awesome goods, like the after effects of the van victim, the guts falling out of the fat guy, the bear trap in the face. It's all done so random and spuratic, this isn't a screenplay. More like stoners trying to write and they keep forgetting what their doing. The soundtrack is about as eighties as you can get (You know those little beats that the characters INSIST ON LISTENING TO OVER AND OVER), and the acting is like a high school drama chick play, hammy and cheesy.
This movie isn't annoying, it' just pretty stupid but in the good way. It's a movie you watch at a party and watch all the party goers reactions to it, though I couldn't see anyone actually watching this alone.
** out of ****
The plot is rather predictable and you don't need psychic vision to know what it's about after seeing the box cover and title. I'm actually going a long way by saying this movie has a plot. After a group of the latest pin up..I mean college cheerleaders (must have all waited quite awhile they looked a day no older then 30) and the token fat guy and Leif Garret (who looks like he spent those paychecks are the nearest bottle of whiskey) get to a camp to compete for some dumb queen thing or blah blah blah, the plot begins to thicken. LOL! Leif Garret instantly starts womanizing RIGHT IN FRONT OF Betsy Russle who is so pilled out and delusional she spends most of her time dreaming utter nonsense of her falling in puddles of mud and mascots dancing around her while you hear "DO IT AGAIN, DO IT AGAIN, HARDER, HARDER", and do'not let me forget the scene where she sees blood on her face and starts crying "NO, MAKE IT STOP", and the next shot it shows her calmly doing a cheer to what appears to be one of the most lamest rap songs I've ever heard. As this is going on, the cannon fodder or Cheerleaders (take ur pick) back stab, try and act, go topless on many occasions, spit "Hip" one liners left and right "Honey on her muffin", and also see random shots of them putting make up and clothes on. They all sure want that crown. There's also a very trampy camp leader who makes it her duty to constantly put these broads down. If the attendance call at the beginning won't make you laugh, then the scenes where she gets loaded sure will. There's also other eighties b-movie trade marks such as Buck Flower and raunchy sex humor sleazing the place up.
Eventually the film makers remember their making a slasher and some of the chicks begin to die. One girl is set up to look as if it's suicide and for the rest of the movie all they recall her as is "that suicide girl", one bimbo after a side splitting scene of "But do you really care about me" monologue gets garden shears in the mouth, another gets run down with a van, and the token fat guy literally gets his gut torn open with a scythe. After all of this Betsy Russel and Leif Garret decide to have champagne by the fire side and talk about their relationship. WTF is going here?...hilarious.
The gore is pretty basic, though at times will give the awesome goods, like the after effects of the van victim, the guts falling out of the fat guy, the bear trap in the face. It's all done so random and spuratic, this isn't a screenplay. More like stoners trying to write and they keep forgetting what their doing. The soundtrack is about as eighties as you can get (You know those little beats that the characters INSIST ON LISTENING TO OVER AND OVER), and the acting is like a high school drama chick play, hammy and cheesy.
This movie isn't annoying, it' just pretty stupid but in the good way. It's a movie you watch at a party and watch all the party goers reactions to it, though I couldn't see anyone actually watching this alone.
** out of ****
One of the better B movie of the genre
ebiros223 November 2012
If the movie title has cheerleader as part of it then you're pretty sure that it's a sexploitation movie, and of course, this one is. You usually expect "very" low quality for a movie of this genre, but surprisingly, this movie is not that way.
Betsy Russell, Leif Garrett and Lucinda Dickey stars in this movie which should tell you that this isn't such a bad movie, but host of other beauties brings up the interest factor a notch or two. Betsy Russell and Lucinda Dickey can act, and them being at the center of the movie guarantees that this movie won't be a complete dud. Although the plot isn't so good, the movie from start to finish holds together reasonably well.
The scenes involving casts other than the girls, really should be taken out. The male actors are not the same caliber as the girls, and spoils the movie. If the movie revolved around just the girls, it would have been a lot better, even without the bodily exposure. The way the movie is shot also is pretty terrible. It's only a notch better than a home video.
Despite the short comings, the girls saves the day on this movie, and makes this movie fun to watch.
Betsy Russell, Leif Garrett and Lucinda Dickey stars in this movie which should tell you that this isn't such a bad movie, but host of other beauties brings up the interest factor a notch or two. Betsy Russell and Lucinda Dickey can act, and them being at the center of the movie guarantees that this movie won't be a complete dud. Although the plot isn't so good, the movie from start to finish holds together reasonably well.
The scenes involving casts other than the girls, really should be taken out. The male actors are not the same caliber as the girls, and spoils the movie. If the movie revolved around just the girls, it would have been a lot better, even without the bodily exposure. The way the movie is shot also is pretty terrible. It's only a notch better than a home video.
Despite the short comings, the girls saves the day on this movie, and makes this movie fun to watch.
Exploring the Past
dagonseve23 July 2010
I remember seeing this film in the horror section when we'd go to rent movies as a child – Cheerleader Camp, along with 1985's Slaughter High (which I've done a review for) and '88's Night of the Demons (which would later turn out to be a favorite of mine) stood out to me; the cover art especially. I'm sure I'd be a broken record if I uttered this phrase, but I'll say it once more for posterity's sake: they sure don't make 'em like they used to! The same could be said for the premise of Cheerleader Camp, too...it follows the path of the "Slasher"; a sub- category within the horror genre that was cleverly constructed before the formula gave birth to a near-limitless barrage of underlings. Cheerleader Camp arrived late in the '80s; that is to say, numerous films that were released prior exercised the usual Slasher-esquire routine ad-infinitum.
Cheerleader Camp focuses on a group of high school students who attend Camp Hurrah - a cheerleading camp that features opposing squads that compete to win the All-State finals. The film's protagonist and primary point of interest is Alison - a girl who suffers from feelings of inadequacy compounded by her boyfriend Brent's (Leif Garrett) unscrupulous behavior. It's not long after their arrival that a death occurs on the camp grounds. Initially ruled as a suicide, sketchy characters are introduced and explored respectively that may offer a clue to the killer's true identity.
I'm sure many of you are curious as to why Leif Garrett, a former '70's teen idol, headlines this film. It is a bit out of place but I find the situation comical. Garrett was not exclusively tied to child-stardom - his filmography is extensive and since 1977 he's released 8 studio albums. I'm still curious as to how the budget of Cheerleader Camp was able to afford someone like Garrett...but I suppose stranger things have happened. The girl who fills the position of Alison is none other than Betsy Russell. Horror audiences would fully recognize her 18 years later in Saw III, portraying the character of Jill Tuck - Jigsaw's wife.
Garrett and Russell are probably the only two that actually display a shred of talent in this mess of a film. Perhaps I should be more honest and mention George "Buck" Flower too - a man who was a very experienced character actor with a career that spanned over 35 years. Flower seemingly starred in just about everything - his accolades achieved within the profession of acting are quite extensive, having been featured in over 100 films. Horror was certainly no stranger to him as he filled roles in films like The Fog, Maniac Cop, Pumpkinhead, They Live, 976-Evil II, Waxwork II: Lost in Time, Warlock: The Armageddon, and the John Carpenter/Tobe Hooper anthology collaboration, Body Bags. Buck Flower was involved with many other horror films as well but I've chosen to be kind and keep my rambling brief.
What else is worth mentioning about Cheerleader Camp? Are you curious about the film's director, John Quinn? He's virtually unheard of and this feature was his third film as a director - that's where his developments in the genre start and end, I'm afraid. Since Cheerleader Camp arrived so late in the scene with many well-known Slasher titles firmly established, the production values and supposed imaginative death sequences do not measure up to a satisfactory standard. The acting by the rest of the gang present in this film is a joke - a cruel, twisted joke, like getting dowsed by a bucket of urine while asleep in your bed as a wake-up call. While the gory sequences do not boast overly- impressive results they could be worse. My complaints in this department are kept to a minimum.
In true Slasher representation, the audience is left to wonder who the real killer is; several red herrings are strewn about in a sloppy and predictable fashion, trying so desperately to trick and fool you but lacking the intelligence to do so. If I actually gave one idiom of a damn, I could have guessed who the killer was too; alas, I sat motionless through this 88 minute feature while scornfully disapproving of the stupidity therein. One could argue that all of these ingredients help comprise that of a cult classic, and normally I'd agree with you, if 50 other Slasher films didn't re-live this exhausting demonstration. I would spend far too much time listing the many films that share a similar premise all throughout the 1980's - many of them before 1988.
All-in-all, I'd say Cheerleader Camp qualifies as another "campy" 80's Slasher with predictable elements and a borish amount of filler so thick you could spread it on a sandwich. Supposedly a sequel to this movie was in production in the early 90's but was scrapped - a different production company picked it up, however, and changed the name from Cheerleader Camp 2 to Camp Fear. It was released on television in 1991 and allowed the return of Betsy Russell. If you love Slasher films, by all means, watch the original to complete your mission in life. As for me, I've done my duty and I'd only agree to watch this film again under the pretense of doing something else...which doesn't include watching it. Does that make sense?
Cheerleader Camp focuses on a group of high school students who attend Camp Hurrah - a cheerleading camp that features opposing squads that compete to win the All-State finals. The film's protagonist and primary point of interest is Alison - a girl who suffers from feelings of inadequacy compounded by her boyfriend Brent's (Leif Garrett) unscrupulous behavior. It's not long after their arrival that a death occurs on the camp grounds. Initially ruled as a suicide, sketchy characters are introduced and explored respectively that may offer a clue to the killer's true identity.
I'm sure many of you are curious as to why Leif Garrett, a former '70's teen idol, headlines this film. It is a bit out of place but I find the situation comical. Garrett was not exclusively tied to child-stardom - his filmography is extensive and since 1977 he's released 8 studio albums. I'm still curious as to how the budget of Cheerleader Camp was able to afford someone like Garrett...but I suppose stranger things have happened. The girl who fills the position of Alison is none other than Betsy Russell. Horror audiences would fully recognize her 18 years later in Saw III, portraying the character of Jill Tuck - Jigsaw's wife.
Garrett and Russell are probably the only two that actually display a shred of talent in this mess of a film. Perhaps I should be more honest and mention George "Buck" Flower too - a man who was a very experienced character actor with a career that spanned over 35 years. Flower seemingly starred in just about everything - his accolades achieved within the profession of acting are quite extensive, having been featured in over 100 films. Horror was certainly no stranger to him as he filled roles in films like The Fog, Maniac Cop, Pumpkinhead, They Live, 976-Evil II, Waxwork II: Lost in Time, Warlock: The Armageddon, and the John Carpenter/Tobe Hooper anthology collaboration, Body Bags. Buck Flower was involved with many other horror films as well but I've chosen to be kind and keep my rambling brief.
What else is worth mentioning about Cheerleader Camp? Are you curious about the film's director, John Quinn? He's virtually unheard of and this feature was his third film as a director - that's where his developments in the genre start and end, I'm afraid. Since Cheerleader Camp arrived so late in the scene with many well-known Slasher titles firmly established, the production values and supposed imaginative death sequences do not measure up to a satisfactory standard. The acting by the rest of the gang present in this film is a joke - a cruel, twisted joke, like getting dowsed by a bucket of urine while asleep in your bed as a wake-up call. While the gory sequences do not boast overly- impressive results they could be worse. My complaints in this department are kept to a minimum.
In true Slasher representation, the audience is left to wonder who the real killer is; several red herrings are strewn about in a sloppy and predictable fashion, trying so desperately to trick and fool you but lacking the intelligence to do so. If I actually gave one idiom of a damn, I could have guessed who the killer was too; alas, I sat motionless through this 88 minute feature while scornfully disapproving of the stupidity therein. One could argue that all of these ingredients help comprise that of a cult classic, and normally I'd agree with you, if 50 other Slasher films didn't re-live this exhausting demonstration. I would spend far too much time listing the many films that share a similar premise all throughout the 1980's - many of them before 1988.
All-in-all, I'd say Cheerleader Camp qualifies as another "campy" 80's Slasher with predictable elements and a borish amount of filler so thick you could spread it on a sandwich. Supposedly a sequel to this movie was in production in the early 90's but was scrapped - a different production company picked it up, however, and changed the name from Cheerleader Camp 2 to Camp Fear. It was released on television in 1991 and allowed the return of Betsy Russell. If you love Slasher films, by all means, watch the original to complete your mission in life. As for me, I've done my duty and I'd only agree to watch this film again under the pretense of doing something else...which doesn't include watching it. Does that make sense?
Cheerleader Camp
Toronto8527 December 2012
Young girls are getting murdered in "Cheerleader Camp". The film begins with a cheer squad heading to Camp Hurrah, a camp for cheerleaders where they can train and compete for various awards. Our main character Alison starts having strange dreams, some are sexual and others are violent involving some of the girls at camp getting murdered. Those dreams start mixing with reality, and pretty soon the bodycount increases. Who is the killer and why are they murdering innocent cheerleaders?
Cheerleader Camp isn't one of the better slashers of the eighties, that's for sure. In the beginning of the film, I really had no idea what was going on. You get scenes of reality, and then all of a sudden it flashes to a dream of Alison's. After about the thirty minute mark, the film starts to pick up and the characters get picked off one by one. The characters are pretty basic. You have the lead girl Alison, the hot guy Brent, the clown Timmy, ditzy Bonnie, outcast Corey, etc. Acting is nothing to write home about, Lorie griffin of "Teen Wolf" fame gets props for her portrayal of the ditzy but lovable Bonnie. That character was the only one I really cared about and hoped would survive.
I thought Betsy Russell in the lead was a WEAK point for this film. Her performance was lackluster, and the script didn't help the character at all. She was pretty much a standoffish and entitled snob for the most part, qualities that do not lead me to root for her or care for her safety. One of the most important rules of a slasher flick is to have a likable "final girl" who the audience can either relate too or root for.
Overall, Cheerleader Camp is a weak slasher film. It's not a movie to be taken seriously, the plot is thin and the ending leaves us wondering many things. The killer's identity wasn't that much of a shock, but I kind of just shrugged and wondered why this person would kill upwards of eight people. Cheerleader Camp does get points for it's over the top cheese and for creating a lot out of a weak budget. If you like eighties slashers, it's one to check out.
5/10
Cheerleader Camp isn't one of the better slashers of the eighties, that's for sure. In the beginning of the film, I really had no idea what was going on. You get scenes of reality, and then all of a sudden it flashes to a dream of Alison's. After about the thirty minute mark, the film starts to pick up and the characters get picked off one by one. The characters are pretty basic. You have the lead girl Alison, the hot guy Brent, the clown Timmy, ditzy Bonnie, outcast Corey, etc. Acting is nothing to write home about, Lorie griffin of "Teen Wolf" fame gets props for her portrayal of the ditzy but lovable Bonnie. That character was the only one I really cared about and hoped would survive.
I thought Betsy Russell in the lead was a WEAK point for this film. Her performance was lackluster, and the script didn't help the character at all. She was pretty much a standoffish and entitled snob for the most part, qualities that do not lead me to root for her or care for her safety. One of the most important rules of a slasher flick is to have a likable "final girl" who the audience can either relate too or root for.
Overall, Cheerleader Camp is a weak slasher film. It's not a movie to be taken seriously, the plot is thin and the ending leaves us wondering many things. The killer's identity wasn't that much of a shock, but I kind of just shrugged and wondered why this person would kill upwards of eight people. Cheerleader Camp does get points for it's over the top cheese and for creating a lot out of a weak budget. If you like eighties slashers, it's one to check out.
5/10
Sleazy Slasher Fun
kennymasterson12 October 2020
There's a killer stalking the attendees of a cheerleading summer camp and it might be the mentally unstable girl with the big hair who's tried to kill herself before. Or it might be the overenthusiastic camp owner who's all too eager to cover up any potential murders and crimes that happen at the camp. Or maybe it's the mascot who's sick and tired of being treated than less than. And don't forget the sleazy cook! Cheerleader Camp isn't the world's best slasher, but it has a few memorable murder sequences including one where a pair of garden shears pop out of someone's mouth and it has enough nudity to keep the teenage boys interested.
The picture on the box is scarier
oldskoolgeek18 June 2001
I believe the writers of this film started off knowing that they wanted some boob shots and a "sex scene" at a cheerleader camp and then wrote a "horror" plot around it.
We rented it just because we saw that Leif Garrett was one of the stars -- and he's just as believable as a horny high schooler as the fact that you will never guess who the killer is! The cheerleaders spend more time swimming and laying out in the sun than practicing their cheers (although Garrett's rap was bad enough that I only needed to hear him practice it once) and the main character Alison wonders around into creepy shacks in the woods looking for soda.
Of course, like most horror films, the characters are stupid, but the sheer idiocy these "cheerleaders" display will make you laugh out loud. The gore is silly unless getting your wrists slashed by pom-poms frightens you. Finally, undoubtedly, the hysterical pep-rally-like "sex scene" is what makes this movie worth seeing. If you're looking for a scare, pass this one up, but check it out if you and your friends are looking for a funny slasher flick that is nothing but pure cheese.
We rented it just because we saw that Leif Garrett was one of the stars -- and he's just as believable as a horny high schooler as the fact that you will never guess who the killer is! The cheerleaders spend more time swimming and laying out in the sun than practicing their cheers (although Garrett's rap was bad enough that I only needed to hear him practice it once) and the main character Alison wonders around into creepy shacks in the woods looking for soda.
Of course, like most horror films, the characters are stupid, but the sheer idiocy these "cheerleaders" display will make you laugh out loud. The gore is silly unless getting your wrists slashed by pom-poms frightens you. Finally, undoubtedly, the hysterical pep-rally-like "sex scene" is what makes this movie worth seeing. If you're looking for a scare, pass this one up, but check it out if you and your friends are looking for a funny slasher flick that is nothing but pure cheese.
A fun slasher flick for lovers of B-movies only!
jimmyplm18 September 2000
I grew up on cheesy 80's slasher movies. That's why I have developed a thick skin when it comes to films. I can appreciate almost anything now that contains a few murders and some random nudity. (Believe me, I know how awful that sounds).
Cheerleader Camp is one of the movies that I loved best in my youth, and still enjoy to this day. It is one of those movies that doesn't expect you to think too much while you watch. It is simple eye candy.
I think it has a pretty good plot for a horror flick (with a very unexpected ending). It is also funny to see just how low former teen idol Leif Garrett could go (who would ever have pictured him a slasher flick like this one?). I think that the characters are all very likeable, and you actually pity them when they get picked off one by one.
Fans of B-movies HAVE to love this one!
Cheerleader Camp is one of the movies that I loved best in my youth, and still enjoy to this day. It is one of those movies that doesn't expect you to think too much while you watch. It is simple eye candy.
I think it has a pretty good plot for a horror flick (with a very unexpected ending). It is also funny to see just how low former teen idol Leif Garrett could go (who would ever have pictured him a slasher flick like this one?). I think that the characters are all very likeable, and you actually pity them when they get picked off one by one.
Fans of B-movies HAVE to love this one!
Cheerleader Camp (1988)
jonahstewartvaughan26 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Eighties Horror Retrospective #21
Cheerleader Camp (1988)
(7/10):Another late Eighties slasher offering,this one is kind of bad in terms of slasher films but it's still got its charms.
Most people who know horror well will recognize Betsy Russell as Jill Tuck from the Saw series as she was in five entries, well here she plays a teenage girl who is with her friends going to a Camp for Cheerleading to compete in a competition. She starts to experience what she describes as bad dreams since she got there and also people are starting to disappear and later turn up dead.
It's a comical teen slasher comedy that has some characters that could've only been written in the eighties, the pervy teen boys who are a little too interested in the girls.
They are of course shut down when the opportunity presents itself but they can be pretty poorly aged, especially when watching the fat guy just recording from a distance.
However that aside the kills are decent enough, it's more gory than it is kill heavy as most kills take place offscreen but we do see a couple really solid kills as one guy gets his belly sliced open and another gets a bear trap in the face, some pretty good gore effects on those kills.
The acting is okay, Betsy Russell is pretty solid but the rest of the cast is just your average slasher fare, and she's just above that, so not that much better.
The twist ending was fine, not really shocking but I didn't expect it either, it just lacked a wow factor.
It's a bad but still fun late slasher flick that is unfortunately also no longer in print so I do think it should get reissued, but it's on YouTube so it's probably not leaving there until that happens.
Cheerleader Camp (1988)
(7/10):Another late Eighties slasher offering,this one is kind of bad in terms of slasher films but it's still got its charms.
Most people who know horror well will recognize Betsy Russell as Jill Tuck from the Saw series as she was in five entries, well here she plays a teenage girl who is with her friends going to a Camp for Cheerleading to compete in a competition. She starts to experience what she describes as bad dreams since she got there and also people are starting to disappear and later turn up dead.
It's a comical teen slasher comedy that has some characters that could've only been written in the eighties, the pervy teen boys who are a little too interested in the girls.
They are of course shut down when the opportunity presents itself but they can be pretty poorly aged, especially when watching the fat guy just recording from a distance.
However that aside the kills are decent enough, it's more gory than it is kill heavy as most kills take place offscreen but we do see a couple really solid kills as one guy gets his belly sliced open and another gets a bear trap in the face, some pretty good gore effects on those kills.
The acting is okay, Betsy Russell is pretty solid but the rest of the cast is just your average slasher fare, and she's just above that, so not that much better.
The twist ending was fine, not really shocking but I didn't expect it either, it just lacked a wow factor.
It's a bad but still fun late slasher flick that is unfortunately also no longer in print so I do think it should get reissued, but it's on YouTube so it's probably not leaving there until that happens.
Pros and cons
benjyboom2 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Pros:
Mediocre soundtrack
A few decent camera shots
Cons: Abominable humor, easily one of the least funny pieces of media I've consumed, and a majority of the film is meant to be funny Terrible writing, nothing sounds remotely like anything a human would say Horrible acting, poor deliveries Extremely generic characters, no one deviates from their chosen archetype Horror elements were mostly done offscreen, reveal of bodies were uninspired and lazy
Best part: "at least they didn't panic" Worst part: mooning and then fart joke
Cons: Abominable humor, easily one of the least funny pieces of media I've consumed, and a majority of the film is meant to be funny Terrible writing, nothing sounds remotely like anything a human would say Horrible acting, poor deliveries Extremely generic characters, no one deviates from their chosen archetype Horror elements were mostly done offscreen, reveal of bodies were uninspired and lazy
Best part: "at least they didn't panic" Worst part: mooning and then fart joke
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