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Surgeons of Horror

~ Dissecting horror films

Surgeons of Horror

Tag Archives: felissa rose

Movie Review: Camp Twilight

31 Saturday Oct 2020

Posted by surgeons of horror in Movie review

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camille keaton, dave sheridan, felissa rose, linnea quigley, vernon wells

Felissa Rose came to fame in the cult classic, Sleepaway Camp and in some horror genre circles is considered an icon, which she humbly shakes off this term of endearment, but is quick to recognise how much the 80s slasher has impacted her life.

Now fans of Rose will be pleased to know that she is to star in a new feature film, Camp Twilight streaming on digital platforms from November. 

Much like the film that propelled her into the limelight, this latest feature sees a group of teenagers sent to a summer camp where someone lurks in wait to kill them one by one.

Said teenagers are a sextet of delinquents that are told by their teacher and principal that they must attend or fear failing school, little knowing that a greater fear awaits them.

While Camp Twilight is low budget, (this is both its challenge and its charm) its flaws slowly ebb away and allow its personality to shine through.
This is enhanced by some of the recognisable genre actors that support the key players along the way, from Dave Sheridan (Scary Movie) as one of the bumbling rangers, to Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead), Vernon Wells (Commando) and Camille Keaton (I Spit on Your Grave).

Let’s not forget Rose, who steals the show as the slightly eccentric school teacher, Jessica Bloom, who at times feels like Rose is channeling Aunt Martha from Sleepaway Camp, her character’s name supposedly a nod to Joe Bob Briggs. 

This is not to say that the teens in question don’t hold their own on screen when it matters, but let’s face it.
We’re just keen to see them meet their comeuppance, which plays out as a whodunnit, genuinely keeping the audience guessing as to who is behind the murders at the park with a notorious history.

The Prognosis: 

Camp Twilight doesn’t shy away from its flaws but embraces them and in doing so let’s the audience enjoy the ride.
One that is clearly being carried out by its cast members and takes you on a fun journey to a slightly convoluted conclusion.

  • Saul Muerte

Felissa Rose interview

Felissa Rose as Jessica Bloom in Camp Twilight

Movie review: Death House

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by surgeons of horror in Movie review

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Adrienne Barbeau, barbara crampton, bill moseley, camille keaton, death house, debbie rochon, Dee Wallace, felissa rose, harrison smith, horror films, Kane Hodder, Michael Berryman, r.a.mihailoff, sid haig, tony Todd

When Gunnar Hansen of Texas Chain Saw Massacre fame wrote and pitched a who’s who of horror films pitted in a hellish place forming a macabre version of The Expendables, it would be a genre fans’ wet dream.
The very idea of Jason aka Kane Hodder sharing the same screen as Tony Todd (Candyman), and Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects) along with the queens of horror, Dee Wallace and Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator) would leave them salivating at the prospect at what could be an Uber-scare factory.
What we do get is a lot of piss and wind in a lacklustre affair that never measures up to its promise.

Before I start lambasting this film though, I do want to focus on the positives.
The very premise of staging a prison break containing some of the most vicious criminals known to mankind housed in a state of the art vicinity, which placates to the criminals whims in virtual space whilst using real victims from the homeless and deprived smacks of genius. It projects a utopian world that humanity could easily travel down if there were no morals or guiding principles attached.

Kane Hodder delivers to a tee and never falters from his iconic presence in front of the camera as the lead antagonist Sieg as he steers those fallen from grace further down into the pit of the jail system – level nine, a place where the five evils preside in a nod to Dante’s Inferno.

Equally Dee Wallace proves once again that she can offer intelligence, vulnerability, and apathy in her character, Dr. Eileen Fletcher and is always a welcome presence on screen.

And full props to Director Harrison Smith who saw fit to carry out Hansen’s vision in his honour, gifting him also with an on-screen presence in holographic form as the father to one of the prison inmates, Leatherlace, which was a nice touch.

And lets not forget those delectable sultry tones from Adrienne Barbeau as the narrator of the movie…

Sorry. Where was I?

Ah yes, all these elements are enough to keep you engaged, at least for a while. Even the strange dark arts that are heavily present throughout adds a decent hook to an intriguing narrative, but those who delve into Death House may find it a struggle as the further down the rabbit hole we go, the more far-fetched and ridiculous the concept goes.

And that’s where it starts to lose me. It doesn’t help that our two lead protagonists, Agents Novak and Boon who are so two-dimensional that not even their strange deep and meaningful conversation about how they became Agents whilst casually sharing a unisex shower cubicle can generate even a twinkle of interest… well, maybe. Which is a shame, because you want to be vested in their journey, but you really don’t care.

The Diagnosis:

This is clearly an attempt to ignite the passion that fans of horror through the 80’s and early 90’s by grouping some favourites of the genre together. Whilst the premise did provide a decent hook, the journey leaves you floundering and left adrift without much care to its conclusion.
A lost opportunity.

  • Saul Muerte

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