SteveResin
The original Sleepaway Camp, for me at least has one of the most disturbing and downright freaky endings to any horror film made. This sequel is less convincing, and typical of the by-the-numbers slasher fare of the 80s.Bizarrely, the original actress who played psychotic camper Angela is replaced with, um, Bruce Springsteen' sister. She's not terrible, but she's not entirely convincing either. Besides, stellar acting isn't what you should expect from the Sleepaway films. Gore, nudity and high camp horror is the order of the day and this movie has it in spades.The death scenes are largely hilarious, with Angela's stock excuse of "Oh, I sent them home" covering her murderous tracks as the campers' numbers dwindle becoming completely ridiculous the longer the film runs, but the whole idiocy and absurdity of the film is saved by the curious charm these old slasher films possess. How can you not enjoy a film where the killer's motives are to rid the world of badly behaved teenagers, and who relaxes from her murderous rampages with a chorus of Kumbaya?
Mr_Ectoplasma
Angela Baker is back in "Sleepaway Camp II," but this time with a sex change, and a hunger for killing immoral teens at the summer camp in which she works. Among her arsenal of hunting tools are knives, fire, a chainsaw, guitar strings, and battery acid!While the original "Sleepaway Camp" was a B-movie through and through, it maintained a level of seriousness and a sophisticated tension throughout; it's a remarkably dark slasher film, thematically and visually. "Sleepaway Camp II," on the other hand, trades in Robert Hiltzik's macabre chops for cult director Michael Simpson's self-referential slasher schlock. "Sleepaway Camp II" is a completely uninhibited and shameless sequel that derails the seriousness in the first film, opting for straightforward gags and black comedy. The film does not really have a plot so to speak; there is no twist either, which, for being the offspring of a film that made its name because of these things, is kind of surprising. It is really just a platform for Angela to butcher teenagers in a ridiculous number of different ways. There are gore effects o'plenty, and many of them are quite good; some of them quite silly. It's not a film that can be taken seriously by any stretch of the imagination, but because of that, it is a rare piece of entertainment that is aware of its utter implausibility and yet completely engaged with it. Pamela Springsteen goofs along through her role and is often hilarious but never frightening, and the supporting cast is well above the cut.As a sequel, "Sleepaway Camp II" is out there, but as a self-aware spoof of films like "Friday the 13th," it's really quite amusing. There is no intellectually stimulating material here, but it's a good way to goof off for an hour and a half. That said, it pales in comparison to the substance of the original film, with its twisted plot and ruthless conclusion. The biggest highlight here? Stabbed in the back and drowned in a leech infested porta-potty. How low can you go? 6/10.
kylehaines96
Since I just got done reviewing Sleepaway Camp, I figured it was appropriate to take a look at the sequels starting with the 1988 film Sleepaway Camp II Unhappy Campers, a film that manages to be even worse than its' predecessor. That is quite an accomplishment.First Off, I don't Understand why we need a sequel to a film that ended conclusively. But the word money brings a couple of reasons why. The film does follow Angela again except this time she is played by Bruce Springsteen's Sister Pamela Springsteen, and she makes the character even worse. Remember when I complained that Angela barley spoke in the first film, well that's all changed because now SHE WON'T SHUT UP! This time she travels to a new camp to wreak havoc on more teens.They explain that after some extensive therapy and a sex-change Angela is now okay to be a camp counselor at Camp Rolling Hills. And this brings me to my next problem: If you knew this character was mentally unstable to begin with, being that she killed kids at a camp years before, then why would you hire her as a camp counselor? I think that the camp directors were smoking a little something to let her back in.They tried making the film a comedy now, but I did not laugh at a single joke in here. Also the film not only rips-off Friday The 13th but references The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and A Nightmare On Elm Street. Thanks, Three good movies ruined in your crappy movie.Finally the movie wraps up with, Guess what, Angela being the killer. Oh My God That is the biggest twist ending since Darth Vader was Luke Skywalkers Father(Notice the sarcasm).The Final Verdict For the film Sleepaway Camp II Unhappy Campers is a BOMB/ 0 stars out of 4, and earns my seal of disapproval meaning this is a film to stay away from. The film is held back by bad acting, Slow and Boring pace and terrible, Terrible jokes. The worst part is I have 3 more of these to watch. Goody.Rated R For Horror Violence And Gore, Sexual Content, Nudity And Language.1hr 20min/80min.10 uses of the F-word.BOMB/****
Lucien Lessard
An few years has passed... Angela (Pamela Springsteen) has become an real girl, she changed her identity and she's now an consoler. But these young teenagers are practically the same way, they nearly treated Angela as a young teen. Now she can't take it anymore, she decides to kill these unhappy campers one by one.Directed by Michael A. Simpson (Sleepaway Camp 3:Teenage Wasteland, Funland) made an amusing slasher horror movie with few humorous moments of black comedy. It is made watchable, thanks to Springteen's winning performance as Angela. Renee Estevez (Her brothers are Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen and Ramon Estevez) is likable in the movie. There is some clever kills in this, although not as gory as you might imagine.DVD from Legacy Entertainment, DVD has an OK Pan & Scan (1.33:1) from the VHS source but the night-time sequences suffers on the DVD. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Sound is fine. Anchor Bay DVD is supposedly Uncut. "Sleepaway Camp 2:Unhappy Campers" is certainly entertaining for the die-hard slasher fans. Truly slow going at times but the short running time helps. (*** ½/*****).
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