Fear and desire collide in explosive fashion in Jane Schoenbrun’s new film, a psychedelic love letter to early 1980s slasher classics that turns the genre on its head.

Schoenbrun Reclaims Slasher Tropes With Sharp Genre Mash-Up

The story opens with clear nods to Halloween, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Yet the real surprise comes from its embrace of 1983’s Sleepaway Camp and that film’s notorious ending, which continues to spark debate among critics over its handling of gender and sexuality.

Glorious Title Sets Tone for Nostalgic Gore and Junk Food Cravings

The film’s title alone signals its wild ambitions. It captures the central obsessions of the story, from bloody mayhem to late-night snacks such as KFC, Jolly Rancher gummies and KitKats. Viewers who first discovered horror films as children will recognize the loving recreation of that era’s VHS-era aesthetics.

Opening Credits Map Franchise History and Merchandise Frenzy

An inventive credit sequence traces the rise and fall of the fictional Camp Miasma series. The original hit featured teen counselors stalked by Little Death, a killer with an air-vent head. Its young star Billy Presley later retreated from fame, echoing real-life stories like Shelley Duvall’s. Later sequels grew increasingly absurd, with medieval, Christmas and space-themed entries, all while flooding stores with T-shirts, action figures and arcade games.

Non-Binary Director Kris Takes on Reboot for Personal and Political Reasons

After the credits, the action shifts to Kris, played by Hannah Einbinder. Kris is a non-binary, polyamorous Sundance favorite suddenly handed the chance to reboot the Camp Miasma franchise. They accept the job knowing the studio wants them only for progressive optics, yet they also see the project as a chance to reshape the material on their own terms.

Kris Seeks Out Reclusive Star Billy at Deserted Camp Tivoli

Kris travels to the remote former campsite where the first film was shot. There they meet Billy, portrayed by Gillian Anderson. Billy lives in eerie isolation and makes a dramatic entrance inside the camp’s old cinema. With a Southern drawl and magnetic presence, she immediately unsettles Kris while pretending to believe the killer Little Death might still be real.

Reality Blurs as Kris Confronts Repressed Desires

The film stays mostly grounded until Kris and Billy watch the original Camp Miasma print together. In that scene Schoenbrun layers glances and reactions that pull Kris into a new understanding of the movie they once loved. Soon after, Billy appears to summon the masked killer from the lake, and the boundary between screen and real life begins to dissolve.

Einbinder Anchors Trippy Tale of Sexual Awakening and Survival

Fans of David Lynch and David Cronenberg will find plenty to unpack in Kris’s journey. Guided by Billy, Kris must decide whether they possess the courage to become the Final Girl. Einbinder brings both strength and vulnerability to the role, anchoring a story that mixes gore, hallucination and unexpected romance.