LGBTQ+ Cinema Discussion: SLEEPAWAY CAMP

Movie Spotlight on "Sleepaway Camp"

Join Movie Club Member Elliot J. for the next movie in their series highlighting LGBTQ+ films featuring "Sleepaway Camp" from 1983. It’s a low-budget slasher that has become somewhat of a cult film among the LGBTQ+ community. Its popularity has inspired at least two sequels, numerous home video releases and fan websites.

Here's how The Portland Movie Club Meet-Ups work:

1. Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet.
2. We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map) on the scheduled day & date. We'll typically have a sign at our table(s) but at least we'll try to be obvious and identifiable.
3. Grab some food and drinks and spend some time socializing and discussing this movie with us.

Eight years after a traumatic boating incident, the only survivor Angela Baker (played by Felissa Rose) returns to Camp Arawak as a shy and lonely 13-year-old. She becomes the target of a lecherous cook, a stuck-up cabinmate and other insensitive tormentors who take advantage of her shyness and morbid fear of the water. Honoring its cinematic role models, the perpetrators meet increasingly violent and gory fates at the camp.

Sequels to Sleepaway Camp have included “Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers,” and “Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland.” These aren’t required viewing for the purposes of the Meet-Up, but the actual titles themselves are amusing enough we couldn’t resist mentioning them here.

Viewing Options for "Sleepaway Camp"

Streaming options appear to be plentiful and reportedly include Amazon Prime, Peacock, Screambox, The Roku Channel with additional for-purchase options at Apple TV and Fandango-At-Home, and free with ads options at Pluto TV and Tubi.

LGBTQ+ Portland Movie Club Meet-Up Cinema Series

LGBTQ+ characters and themes have been present throughout film history dating back to pre-Hays Code era. The relationship between film and the LGBTQ+ community has had its ups and downs over the years and has been continually changing. This discussion group will highlight some key films that mark these changes and shed light upon the vast selection of LGBTQ+ films which cinema has to offer.

Tips:

1. Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
2. I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!

Some of the films previously viewed and discussed in this series of PMC Meet-Ups have included Gregg Araki’s “The Doom Generation” and “Nowhere,” “But I’m A Cheerleader,” “I Saw The TV Glow,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" and the documentary “Paris Is Burning.”