Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Coventry Red alert! Based on the period of release (1987), the prototypic title (Summer Camp Nightmare) and the cover image of the old VHS (showing a hysterically screaming young blond wench), I was all prepared for the umpteenth routine slasher movie taking place at a remote teenage camping site. But then suddenly I noticed a couple of peculiar things in the opening credits… Written by Penelope Spheeris? Based upon the novel "The Butterfly Revolution" by William Butler? What the hell … could it be I picked up a profound coming-of-age allegory instead of a slasher? They can be really great, of course, but I so wasn't prepared for that. Well, the good news is that "Summer Camp Nightmare" is not a pretentious coming-of-age melodrama, or at least not primarily so, but it's definitely not a brainless teen slasher, neither. The film is kind of a mixture between "Battle Royale" (without the extreme violence), "Lord of the Flies" (minus the island setting) and "The Most Dangerous Game". Camp North Pines is a separate sexes summer resort that used to be extremely popular until this year's edition, now that the new managing director Mr. Warren implemented a series of drastic changes to cut back on funds. When the boys' section rebels against his new policy in a playful manner, he only gets more hateful. He cuts off their nudity television shows, interrupts the Free Podium contest and even cancels the dance where the boys and girls camp traditionally come together to copulate. Some of the toughest kids decide to take over control during the annual "reversed authority" game; the day when the campers become the leaders and vice versa. Their aura of superiority quickly runs out of hand and pretty soon their "revolution" sows abuse of power, corruption, indecency, kidnapping and even murder. It's fairly easy to see how this film got catapulted into 80's oblivion between all the contemporary teen slashers, high school gang wars and vigilante movies. Nevertheless this is a modest hidden gem and I urge more people to seek it out. "Summer Camp Nightmare" benefices from a tense build-up, detailed enough character drawings and a couple of sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat. The acting performances are more than adequate, most notably Chuck Connors as the grumpy camp director and Charles Stratton as the lead "guerilla" teenager Franklyn Reilly. His looks and obnoxious attitude even reminded me of Captain Rhodes in "Day of the Dead", and horror freaks know this is a big compliment!

Aaron1375 Yes, this movie is not the best movie in the world but it does one thing most movies do not do. It shows what children would do if they were in control. Granted other movies portray kid's as somehow always outwitting the adults, coming to peaceful resolutions on things, and nothing they do is wrong. I always find this total crap as I went to school I was picked on and such when there was supervision, kids are moronic at best and can not be left to do as they wish. If nothing else this movie shows what kids and teenagers would do if they got some power. The story, well the kids are not enjoying camp much because the head counselor is a bit strict, so in the background one teen decides to stir some stuff up and through a series of events takes the counselors and locks them up and decides to take control of the camp along with the other dumb kids and teens who do not seem to realize that they are going to be very much in trouble once the police find out. The movie is rather graphic, but despite the title by no means is it a horror movie. It is not even all that good except for a couple of scenes involving the rope bridge. Be warned there is a rape scene in the movie and while it does not show any nudity it is obvious what is going on. Here is a bit of advice though if something of this type happens out there. While the rape that occurs from like a guy who sneaks up on you is hard to avoid as it catches you by surprise the one done when it is a boyfriend or friend is easily avoidable. If you say no and he persists and he seems to be getting violent, just act like you are going along with the sex, grab him in the weak area acting like you are going to rub him then squeeze very hard and I guarantee you will be able to get away rather easily just do not wait till he recovers. So this movie may be worth checking out for a strange twist to the summer camp movie I just can not really recommend it either because even though it shows how I feel kids would act in this situation quite well it still ticks me off to see their behavior.

divaxmachina Beef Bologna! This cheese-camp flick about a bunch of kids who decide to join a Revolution against the camp counselors, is just that. A revolution. It is at times hilarious *check out the FEAR song during the Talent Show by the Horn Dogs*, Stanley "Runk the Punk"'s intro, and the girls singing "Come Visit us Down South"...No pun intended *LOL*.Franklin Riley is your token "rebel with a cause" teenager with "Civil Disobedience" in his pocket and has plans to ruin the summer for everyone...He creates the "Revolution" and appoints officers to guard the camp counselors locked in the rec room while the campers get drunk, have sex, and basically try to kill each other.The kicker/surprise is the rape thrown in, i was not expecting that. Classic camp/horror/cheese flick with really bad 80's songs *She Makes the Bad Boys Cry*, really bad clothing, and even worse huge nerd glasses and rashes on asses!A blast!Bite my Beef Bologna

Joseph P. Ulibas Summer Camp Nightmare (1987) was a version of the book "The Butterfly Revolution". Whilst the book was a good read, the film was pure teensploitation. This movie is like totally dated dude. The haircuts, clothes and make-up put this one in 80's hell. The characters, for the most part are broadly drawn and the acting is mediocre at best. The direction is sloppy and uninspired. Just your typically 80's teen flick. The campers have enough of the puritanical rule of Camp Leader Chuck Connors and the campers revolt. The leader of the "revolution" is a charismatic young fellow who likes to read Thoreau in his spare time. Sadly, this "revolution" suffers from what all of them become prey to. Loss ofideals, a lack of a true focus and lust for power turns the camp into something frightening.An okay film. Chuck Connors plays his usual self, a character with something repressed beneath his grizzly haggard persona. But other than that, there's nothing to really talk about or worth mentioning. It has it's moments and a couple of scenes are quite entertaining. Like the revolution, this film's full potential is not fully realized. A pity because this one could have been good.Okay film, slightly recommended.C+x