Director Alberto Marini’s 2015 ‘Summer Camp‘, co-written by Danielle Schleif, has just made it to Netflix’s DVD library. I’ve been wanting to see it and last night I finally did.
The film begins with four camp counselors (3 American), played by Diego Boneta (Scream Queens), Jocelin Donahue (Insidious: Chapter 2), Maiara Walsh (Zombieland) and Andres Velencoso, getting ready the day before the camp’s opening.
Things begin to go very wrong when one of the camp’s dogs seems to go rabid. What the councilors don’t know is that it is not rabies, but something worse. While in the wine cellars, the two guys get into a fight after one begins to attack while black ooze drips from his mouth. In the struggle one is killed. Soon another councilor begins to have the same symptoms, aggression and a taste for blood. Now the group is in all out fight for survival.
Unfortunately, ‘Summer Camp’ plays out like many camp horror films do. The characters were one dimensional and typical. The film does not even attempt to build a connection between characters and the viewer. There is no reason given for us to care about the characters or root for them to survive. It had the stereotypical characters found in many horror movies, the hot guy, the clueless rich girl, the player and the troubled one. Of course, the guys only have one thing on their minds. Sound familiar?
There was a nice twist with the virus, but mostly it still looks like the symptoms of your typical zombie rage virus. I do respect that they did attempt to put their own spin on it. Sadly, the film was far too predictable. It had potential, but the recycled ideas killed it for me. I think the script was the problem here.
The location was creepy and ideal for a horror film, but was simply used as a backdrop. It would have been great to have seen it used like a character itself.
I fail to understand why filmmakers continue to deliver the same plots we’ve seen over and over. We desperately need something new.
‘Summer Camp’ is now out on Digital HD, DVD and available on Netflix DVD.
