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SLASHED! Is The Summer Camp Slasher Musical We Never Knew We Needed

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The horror genre and the stage go hand-in-hand. From FAUST to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to RE-ANIMATOR: THE MUSICAL and beyond, the theater is the perfect place to experience terrors in both dialogue and song. But who could ever expect a musical version of a summer camp slasher movie? That’s exactly what SLASHED! THE MUSICAL delivers with a seriously catchy soundtrack, genre savvy, great cast, and more!

Photo Credit: Ama Lea

SLASHED! is set during the peak golden age of slasher movies, particularly those set at summer camps in particular, 1983. Camp Freedom, or Camp “Doom” as it’s become infamously known, is being re-opened. Again. The camp has had it’s share of troubles and massacres since Lil’ Peetie Jergins (Played by Sean Keller, who also did the show’s music/lyrics/writing) died in a wayward bonfire while his counselors were off having sex and now “the curse of the ghost of the kid who died because everyone was fucking”  haunts the sleepaway camp’s history… and literally! Looney Lucy (Fayna Sanchez), the slasher staple crazy harbinger that nobody listens to, warns the audience and everyone within earshot that you’re all going to die… in a rousing musical number! All before we’re introduced to our cast of victims- I mean,characters. Including Blaine (Curt Bonnem) and Theresa (Clarke Wolfe) the camp administrators that want to revitalize the campsite and their failing marriage.

And what would an 80’s summer camp be without a bunch of rowdy, horny, beer swilling, pot smoking counselors? There’s the TV sitcom obsessed Shelly,  (Mary O’Neil) complete with DALLAS t-shirt/MORK AND MINDY suspenders. The aerobics and boy crazy Joyce (Elissa Wagner). The fit and usually shirtless Andy (Acquah Dansoh). And the timid and virginal Todd (Timothy Nathan Kopacz). Once the danger is revealed, the group comes upon the all-around badass, Paige (Kristyn Chalker) who has her own secret agenda for being at Camp Doom.

 

The show works on all levels. For genre fans, it’s everything we could love about a musical version of a slasher movie. With many jokes and easter eggs to 80’s horror and pop culture in general dropped in the dialogue. Such as Blaine reflecting on his child-hood ‘Sleepaway Camp’ where a camper went nuts and killed people. But he can’t remember if it was a boy or a girl… The character archetypes are on point, from “Looney Lucy” acting as stupendous stand-in for FRIDAY THE 13th’s “Crazy Ralph” to our prominent killer, Lil’ Peetie Jergins having elements of Jason, Cropsy, Madman Marz, and more camper boogeymen. And unlike usually mute masked murderers, Peetie has got some seriously good pipes! Singing about his tragic death and the plight of being unable to stop people from indulging in their sinful vices- no matter how many he kills. And without spoiling too much, the story manages to find all sorts of ways to reflect on the genre and turn it upside down. The most upfront prominent of which being Todd being the male virgin of the tale rather than a girl.

The soundtrack being a major highlight of the show and with awesome performances all around. Capturing the aesthetic of 80’s pop and the haunting scores of slasher films along with peppy and incredibly catchy lyrics. In particular, the main theme of Camp Doom will leave you singing “You’re all gonna die” to yourself over and over! The run-time is only at 45 minutes, but they still manage to cram as much horror humor, song sequences, and dismemberments as possible.

The musical is ending its sold out run with Hollywood Fringe by June 23rd, BUT you’ll still have the chance to see this cross-genre trip to the 80’s as SLASHED! will have a special performance on Sunday, July 30th at the Midsummer Scream convention in Los Angeles with time and details TBD. So keep your eyes out and head on!

So, if you have the chance to spend the night at Camp Doom, I would highly recommend watching this throwback of fun!

SLASHED! THE MUSICAL’s soundtrack is available to listen right now for free here on Band Camp!

(Feature Image Photo Credit: Ama Lea)

 

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Lists

New to Netflix (U.S.) This Month [May 2024]

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atlas movie Netflix starring Jennifer Lopez

Another month means fresh additions to Netflix. Although there aren’t many new horror titles this month, there are still some notable movies well worth your time. For instance, you can watch Karen Black try to land a 747 jet in Airport 1979, or Casper Van Dien kill giant insects in Paul Verhoeven’s bloody sci-fi opus Starship Troopers.

We are looking forward to the Jennifer Lopez sci-fi action movie Atlas. But let us know what you are going to watch. And if we have missed something, put it in the comments.

May 1:

Airport

A blizzard, a bomb, and a stowaway help create the perfect storm for the manager of a Midwestern airport and a pilot with a messy personal life.

Airport ’75

Airport ’75

When a Boeing 747 loses its pilots in a midair collision, a member of the cabin crew must take control with radio help from a flight instructor.

Airport ’77

A luxury 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art goes down in the Bermuda Triangle after being hijacked by thieves — and time for a rescue is running out.

Jumanji

Two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens a door to a magical world — and unwittingly release a man who’s been trapped inside for years.

Hellboy

Hellboy

A half-demon paranormal investigator questions his defense of humans when a dismembered sorceress rejoins the living to wreak brutal vengeance.

Starship Troopers

When fire-spitting, brain-sucking bugs attack Earth and obliterate Buenos Aires, an infantry unit heads to the aliens’ planet for a showdown.

May 9

Bodkin

Bodkin

A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.

May 15

The Clovehitch Killer

The Clovehitch Killer

A teenager’s picture-perfect family is torn apart when he uncovers unnerving evidence of a serial killer close to home.

May 16

Upgrade

After a violent mugging leaves him paralyzed, a man receives a computer chip implant that allows him to control his body — and get his revenge.

Monster

Monster

After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

May 24

Atlas

Atlas

A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

The Camp Cretaceous gang come together to unravel a mystery when they discover a global conspiracy that brings danger to dinosaurs — and to themselves.

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Movie Reviews

Panic Fest 2024 Review: ‘Never Hike Alone 2’

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There are fewer icons more recognizable than the slasher. Freddy Krueger. Michael Myers. Victor Crowley. Notorious killers who always seem to come back for more no matter how many times they are slain or their franchises seemingly put to a final chapter or nightmare. And so it seems that even some legal disputes cannot stop one of the most memorable movie murderers of all: Jason Voorhees!

Following the events of the first Never Hike Alone, outdoorsman and YouTuber Kyle McLeod (Drew Leighty) has been hospitalized after his encounter with the long thought dead Jason Voorhees, saved by perhaps the hockey masked killer’s greatest adversary Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) who now currently works as an EMT around Crystal Lake. Still haunted by Jason, Tommy Jarvis struggles to find a sense of stability and this latest encounter is pushing him to end the reign of Voorhees once and for all…

Never Hike Alone made a splash online as a well shot and thoughtful fan film continuation of the classic slasher franchise that was built up with the snowbound follow up Never Hike In The Snow and now climaxing with this direct sequel. It’s not only an incredible Friday The 13th love letter, but a well thought out and entertaining epilogue of sorts to the infamous ‘Tommy Jarvis Trilogy’ from within the franchise that encapsulated Friday The 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter, Friday The 13th Part V: A New Beginning, and Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Even getting some of the original cast back as their characters to continue the tale! Thom Mathews being the most prominent as Tommy Jarvis, but with other series casting like Vincent Guastaferro returning as now Sheriff Rick Cologne and still having a bone to pick with Jarvis and the mess around Jason Voorhees. Even featuring some Friday The 13th alumni like Part III‘s Larry Zerner as the mayor of Crystal Lake!

On top of that, the movie delivers on kills and action. Taking turns that some of the previous fils never got the chance to deliver on. Most prominently, Jason Voorhees going on a rampage through Crystal Lake proper when he slices his way through a hospital! Creating a nice throughline of the mythology of Friday The 13th, Tommy Jarvis and the cast’s trauma, and Jason doing what he does best in the most cinematically gory ways possible.

The Never Hike Alone films from Womp Stomp Films and Vincente DiSanti are a testament to the fanbase of Friday The 13th and the still enduring popularity of those films and of Jason Voorhees. And while officially, no new movie in the franchise is on the horizon for the foreseeable future, at the very least there is some comfort knowing fans are willing to go to these lengths to fill the void.

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News

New Vampire Flick “Flesh of the Gods” Will Star Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac

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Kristen-Stewart-and-Oscar-Isaac

80s nostalgia is still going strong in the horror community. As proof of this, Panos Cosmatos (Mandy) is developing a new 80s themed vampire film. However, unlike some of the other nostalgia bait films that have come out recently, Flesh of the Gods is packing some serious talent.

First, the film is written by the legendary Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en). If that wasn’t enough, the film will star Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight) and Kristen Stewart (Underwater).

Kristen Stewart
Oscar Isaac, Flesh of the Gods article

Variety gives us a glimpse into the story line, stating that: “Flesh of the Gods is set in glittering ’80s L.A., where married couple Raoul (Oscar Isaac) and Alex (Kristen Stewart) each evening descend from their luxury skyscraper condo and head into the city’s electric nighttime realm. When they cross paths with a mysterious and enigmatic figure known as Nameless and her hard-partying cabal, the pair are seduced into a glamorous, surrealistic world of hedonism, thrills and violence.”

Cosmatos offers his own opinion of the film. “Like Los Angeles itself, ‘Flesh of the Gods’ inhabits the liminal realm between fantasy and nightmare. Both propulsive and hypnotic, ‘Flesh’ will take you on a hot rod joy ride deep into the glittering heart of hell.”

Producer Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up) seems to also be excited about The Flesh of the Gods. “This director, this writer, these incredible actors, vampires, choice ’80s punk, style and attitude for miles… that’s the film we’re bringing you today. We think it’s wildly commercial and wildly artful. Our ambitions are to make a movie that ripples through popular culture, fashion, music and film. Can you tell how excited I am?”

Flesh of the Gods is set to begin filming later this year. It will launch at Cannes with WME Independent, CAA Media Finance, and XYZ Films. The Flesh of the Gods does not currently have a release date.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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