Camp Hell - Movie Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Even with some unnerving supernatural elements, the scariest thing about this low-key horror film is the earnest spirituality of the Christian community. The grounded approach and honest performances are provocative and unsettling. As is the fact that it's based on a true story.

Against his will, teenager Tommy (Denton) is sent to a Camp Hope by his deeply religious parents (Delany and McCarthy). More like a military bootcamp than a week of summer fun, the camp is run by a cult-like covenant community. The rules Father McAllister (Davison) enforces are painfully strict, although Tommy scores points because he's reading Dante. Fortunately, no one knows about his crush on Melissa (de Angelis). Meanwhile, after a violent demon-related incident, Daniel (Eisenberg) has been in a mental health facility for six months.

A blend of evangelicalism and catholicism, this devout religious community is never satirised. The portrayal is eerily realistic, complete with small signs of cultish tendencies, such as the prohibition on leaving the camp, using mobile phones and all expressions of pop culture. Of course, anything even hinting at sex is harshly forbidden. But the film quietly questions every sweeping doctrinal statement and churchy cliche, all while slowly building a sense of underlying suspense.

Writer-director VanBuskirk's serious approach makes the film especially involving. The eerily quiet scenes are laced with thoughtful dialog and performances that are honest and engaging. We understand Tommy's questioning ("Why does the devil have so much power?"), as his grandfather's words of wisdom are dismissed as the advice of a fallen man and his nightmares suggest that a demon is after him. But all of this is played introspectively, cleverly adding layers of interest through creepy dreams, nightmares and visions.

So by the time things start turning darkly nasty, we're thoroughly involved in the story and characters. Horror fans might find the build-up too slow for the genre, and when it finally cuts loose, it gets seriously freaky without ever being overwrought. It's impressive that VanBuskirk creates such a strong creep-out without either histrionic filmmaking or excessive special effects.
Instead, we have a surprisingly astute exploration of the dangers of glib religion oppression, with an added dose of terrifying demonic possession.

Facts and Figures

Year: 2011

Run time: 99 mins

In Theaters: Friday 2nd December 2011

Budget: $3M

Distributed by: LionsGate Entertainment

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3.5 / 5

IMDB: 3.5 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: George VanBuskirk

Producer: David Newman, Laylee Olfat, George VanBuskirk

Screenwriter: George VanBuskirk

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel, Spencer Treat Clark as Timothy, Joseph Vincent Cordaro as Ryan, Kennan Budnik as Altar Boy, Valentina de Angelis as Melissa, Gary DeMichele as Hobo, Will Denton as Tommy, Jaron Downs as Camp Brother, Christopher Denham as Christian, Bruce Davison as Fr. Phineas McAllister, Dana Delany as Patricia Leary, Andrew McCarthy as Michael Leary, Ato Essandoh as Priest, Charlie Hewson as Paramedic

Also starring: Connor Paolo, David Newman, George VanBuskirk