Camp Hell

Shot in 2007 and notable for a cameo by Jesse Eisenberg, George VanBuskirk’s movie is suspended in limbo between horror-inflected religious drama and ‘coming of age’ tale. Soul-corrupting demons invade a happy-clappy summer camp where teens with raging hormones are warned about the perils of rock music, comic books, masturbation and pre-marital sex – all conduits for Satan. Ignoring the dire warnings of a priest (Bruce Davison), unhappy camper Tommy Leary (Will Denton) unleashes these evil forces through his lust for Melissa (Valentina de Angelis). Budgetary limitations, a plodding script, ropey visual effects and an excruciating score undercut a heartfelt cautionary tale about a confused teenager wrestling with his religious faith and the dogmatism of his overzealous elders.