***Adolescents at a summer camp in upstate New York… with a killer on the loose***

On the surface “Sleepaway Camp” (1983) is a clone of the first two “Friday the 13th” movies (1980/1981) mixed with elements of “Meatballs” (1979), but with more edge. Like the first “Friday the 13th,” the killer is a mystery until the end. Like “Meatballs,” the youths at the camp are adolescents, including pubescents. Kids of this ilk didn’t manifest in the Friday the 13th franchise until Part VI (1986) and, even then, they weren’t the focus.

Unfortunately, the production values are subpar compared to the above films. If you take out the cussing and slayings, this is of the TV movie variety; and I’m being nice. There’s also some overt camp (no pun intended), like Ricky’s mother.

Still, you can’t beat the early 80’s ambiance and the styles are amusing, especially the short shorts worn by guys. Unlike most of the “Friday” flicks or “The Burning” (1981), the killer doesn’t wear a mask; and “Sleepaway Camp” gets extra points for a shockingly perverse revelation at the climax. There are several other gems, like Judy’s full black mane (Karen Fields), Meg’s curious attraction to the older curmudgeonly camp owner and Paul DeAngelo’s impressive fitness & laughable shorts.

The film runs 1 hour, 24 minutes; and was shot in in Argyle, New York, near Summit Lake at a camp formerly named Camp Algonquin.

GRADE: B-/C+