robert hiltzik Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Ah yes, Sleepaway Camp. That ending still packs one wacky punch, doesn't it? Yeah. So here's a quick history lesson:

1983 -- Robert Hiltzik unleashes Sleepaway Camp unto the world. Ten of thousands of creeped-out teenagers can't stop talking about the ending.

1988 & 1989 -- One Michael A. Simpson delivered a pair of back-to-back video sequels: Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers and Sleepaway Camp 3: Teenage Wasteland. Both are notable for their vicious violence, their goofy gore, and their lead actress, who happens to be Bruce Springsteen's little sister. I forget which movie had the "outhouse leeches" murder, but good lord was that scene disgusting.

2002 -- Anchor Bay releases the trilogy in a box set that ends up censored by the Red Cross. Included in the set is footage from an unfinished sequel called Sleepaway Camp 4: The Survivor.

Which bring us up to speed. We've been been hearing word for quite some time now that Hiltzik was working on a Part 4, and now we not only have a release date, but (courtesy of Shock) we also have a DVD cover (and a trailer) to look at. Vincent Pastore and Isaac Hayes star in the inevitably sticky slasher sequel, and the DVD will hit the shelves (on October 14) by way of Magnolia's new Magnet genre division. And you just gotta love that tag-line: "Kids can be so mean!"

I have to be honest, it's been a long time since I saw the original horror Sleepaway Camp -- but I'll admit the ending managed to provide quite the education for a young girl in 1983. So you can't blame me for not even knowing there had been four sequels to the original tale of campers in peril and a fifth film titled Return to Sleepaway Camp was in production. Now, Bloody Disgusting reports that Camp writer-director Robert Hiltzik is already promising yet another sequel. Tentatively titled Sleepaway Camp Reunion, the film "follows the events of Return to Sleepaway Camp and focuses on the long-awaited return of Aunt Martha as well as Ricky and Angela Baker" but, there are not many more details than that at this point. There is also no word on whether Felissa Rose (who played Angela), or any of the original cast will be returning.

Since Return to Sleepaway Camp is still in production, the announcement of another film might seem a little premature, but I guess Hiltzik doesn't believe in too much of a good thing. Also, the Sleepaway series happens to be the only credit on his resume, so when he says he will be returning for more, you can probably believe him. The series has maintained a loyal following over the years in horror circles, although its certainly not in the A-list of the genre. Nevertheless, considering the rate at which the franchise is churning out the sequels, it probably won't be long until number seven and eight are on their way.