The remake of Robert Hiltzik’s notorious 1983 cult classic, Sleepaway Camp, has just received a significant and exciting update. Fans can officially prepare their bunks. The script for the updated slasher is now complete, signaling that the project is speeding toward production.
A New Generation of Terror: Hiltzik Returns
The update came via the production company AFA, spearheaded by Saturday Night Live star and comedian Kenan Thompson, alongside Johnny Ryan Jr., who posted an image of the first page of the script, with the chilling line: “Attention campers, our script has arrived. Please meet us at the waterfront after the social for a table read.” The post confirmed that original writer and director Robert Hiltzik has not only penned the new screenplay but will also return to helm the film.
Hiltzik shared his enthusiasm for the project in a statement, emphasizing the critical element of preserving the film’s unique identity:
“I am both thrilled and humbled to be working with AFA on the reimagined Sleepaway Camp. Though I have been approached by several companies regarding the remake… only AFA has shared my vision and is excited to have me helm the film, therefore preserving the integrity of the original film for the fans, as well as introducing Sleepaway Camp to a whole new generation. Be prepared for a new member of the Sleepaway Camp family.”
With the script secured, the production’s focus shifts immediately to casting, with announcements promised “coming soon.”
The Cult Legacy of the 1983 Original
To fully appreciate the significance of Hiltzik’s return, one must understand the unique history of the 1983 original. Sleepaway Camp arrived during the golden age of the North American slasher—the boom years following the success of Friday the 13th. While initially overlooked or dismissed as a genre filler, the film quickly gained traction and achieved cult status thanks to home video rentals.
The premise is a summer camp slasher. A young girl named Angela Baker ( Felissa Rose) is sent to Camp Arawak. There is a series of bizarre and increasingly violent murders that begin to target anyone who torments her. The film featured a strong cast of genre stalwarts and newcomers, including Jonathan Tiersten and Mike Kellin.
The Infamous Twist and Lingering Controversy
Why has Sleepaway Camp endured and become a horror fixture? It’s infamous plot twist—widely regarded as one of the most unexpected and disturbing reveals in horror cinema history. In the film’s final moments, the killer’s identity is revealed to be Angela, who is graphically shown to be intersex, having been raised as a girl following a traumatic childhood accident.
Through a modern lens, the film’s handling of this subject matter is highly controversial. Critics often cite the ending as deeply problematic. Arguing that it uses gender identity and intersex status as a source of shock and horror, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Hiltzik’s decision to return and his statement about “preserving the integrity” of the original suggest the remake will have to carefully navigate the difficult balance of honoring the original’s shocking climax while updating the narrative sensibility to be more sensitive and constructive for a contemporary audience.
The successful completion of Hiltzik’s script suggests the direction he intends to take this challenge is settled. As fans await the imminent casting news, the question remains: Can the new Sleepaway Camp deliver the same level of shocking dread while redefining the legacy of its legendary, problematic twist?
Here’s a look back at the original film’s trailer. If you haven’t seen it (it should be on every horror fan’s watch list), you can watch it now on Crunchyroll, Fawesome, Roku, Plex, Pluto TV, and Prime Video.
