Main Cast: Chuck Connors, Charles Stratton, Adam Carl, Harold Pruett, Melissa Brennan
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Offering an updated take on William Golding's Lord of the Flies, complete with anti-fascist metaphors, this drama is set at a summer camp where the kids rise up against their counselors and start running things themselves. It is based on a novel by William Butler, The Butterfly Revolution. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review
This teen-oriented film is a fitfully entertaining but lightweight stab at social commentary. Summer Camp Nightmare starts well, doing a fine job of conveying the attitudes of its young characters and creating a believable enough summer camp setting. Unfortunately, the story pulls its punches once the storyline delves into more challenging territory and the finished product ends up being watchable but curiously lacking in impact. Bert Dragin ensures that the pace doesn't drag with his economical directing style but his work lacks the inspiration and style that could have really drawn out the promise of his material. Similarly, most of the cast is competent without really impressing: the only two standouts are Charlie Stratton, who is quietly convincing as the calculating, dictatorial teen villain, and Chuck Connors, who nicely conveys the uptight nature of his out-of-touch authority figure role. The end result feels like little more than a slightly darker-than-average after-school special. In short, Summer Camp Nightmare offers modest fun for fans of 1980's teen fare but lacks the substance necessary to draw in a bigger audience. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Tom Fridley - John Mason; Stuart Rogers - Stanley Runk; Shawn McLemore - Hammond Pimpernic; Samantha Neward - Debbie; Nancy Calabrese - Trixie; Michael Cramer - Jerome Blackridge; Rick Fitts - Ed Heinz; Scott Curtis - Peter; Christopher Gosch - Kid; Doug Toby - Manuel Rivas; Tina Blum - Nurse Newman; Wade Crow - Wade; Rick Dorio - Cop; David Hern - TV Preacher; Christianna Hillman - Girl At Camper; Chris Hubbell - Jack Caldwell; Brad Kestin - GoGo; Bradley Lieberman - Guard; John Louis - Paul Indian; John Mannger - Counselor; Jennifer McGrath - Laurie; Shirley Mitchell - Mrs. Knute; Sally Piper - Woman Counselor; Tom Rayhall - Detective Stone; Tony Willard - Fat Camper
Credit
Barry Franenberg - Art Director, Andy Howard - Co-producer, Bert Dragin - Director, Michael Spence - Editor, Roger Corman - Executive Producer, Gary Chase - Composer (Music Score), Ted Neeley - Composer (Music Score), Gary Chase - Songwriter, Bert Dragin - Songwriter, Ted Neeley - Songwriter, Doug Toby - Songwriter, Lee Ving - Songwriter, Christa Reusch - Makeup, Ferri Sorel - Makeup, Richard McGuire - Production Designer, Don Burgess - Cinematographer, Andy Howard - Production Manager, Robert T. Crow - Producer, Elilia Lesniak-Crow - Producer, Jennefer Pray - Set Designer, Michael Spence - Set Designer, Stephan Vonhase - Sound/Sound Designer, John Branagan - Stunts, John Branagan - Stunts Coordinator, Bert Dragin - Screenwriter, Penelope Spheeris - Screenwriter, William Butler - Book Author
