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The setup has Allison and her fellow cheerleaders from Lindo Valley High (home of the Alligators) training and competing with other squads at the all-state cheerleader camp - Camp Hurrah. There, that's all you need to get the ball rolling on this movie.
Cheerleaders turn up dead or missing, and the long list of the usual suspects gets narrowed down as the body count rises. The identity of the real killer is actually pretty easy to guess, but the killer's motivation and clever way of getting away with it comes as a real surprise. (Or would have if I hadn't just said the killer gets away with it. Oops.)
The body count is fairly low, as these movies go, and most of the kills are unspectacular. One, on the other hand, is really top notch and unusual. It involves hedge clippers being rammed through the back of a victim's head and out her mouth. Bravo, movie! Would that you had put as much effort into the other kills.
But despite the relative lack of gore and violence, Cheerleader Camp keeps your attention. The movie checks off all the 80s slasher tropes one by one - death, nudity, horn-dog teenage boys, sleazy red-herring camp caretakers, distinctly unhelpful cops, and a heaping pile of bad decisions being made by the characters.
Cheerleader Camp has the decency to throw in a few extra pinches of spice to this familiar dish, in the form of a breakdancing alligator mascot, cheesy cheerleading routines (Bring It On this is not), a few bizarre nightmare sequences, an early example of found footage horror as one character videotapes his own death and others watch it, and a hilariously awful rap performed by Leif Garrett and a portly partner. It all culminates in a surprisingly strong third act and a creepy, fairly haunting ending that should have led to a sequel. Alas.
Every now and then, if you sift through the countless forgotten slasher flicks from the 80s you will find a gem. Cheerleader Camp may not be a diamond, but it's at least a pretty decent tanzanite. If nothing else, it has spirit - yes it do. It has spirit - how 'bout you?
Check out this great trailer if you don't want to have to find and watch the whole movie. It gives away basically everything, including the best kills, dancing alligator, and most importantly, the rap song. It's also presented under the film's original title, Bloody Pom Poms. Hard to say which title is better. Or worse.
But despite the relative lack of gore and violence, Cheerleader Camp keeps your attention. The movie checks off all the 80s slasher tropes one by one - death, nudity, horn-dog teenage boys, sleazy red-herring camp caretakers, distinctly unhelpful cops, and a heaping pile of bad decisions being made by the characters.
Cheerleader Camp has the decency to throw in a few extra pinches of spice to this familiar dish, in the form of a breakdancing alligator mascot, cheesy cheerleading routines (Bring It On this is not), a few bizarre nightmare sequences, an early example of found footage horror as one character videotapes his own death and others watch it, and a hilariously awful rap performed by Leif Garrett and a portly partner. It all culminates in a surprisingly strong third act and a creepy, fairly haunting ending that should have led to a sequel. Alas.
Every now and then, if you sift through the countless forgotten slasher flicks from the 80s you will find a gem. Cheerleader Camp may not be a diamond, but it's at least a pretty decent tanzanite. If nothing else, it has spirit - yes it do. It has spirit - how 'bout you?
Check out this great trailer if you don't want to have to find and watch the whole movie. It gives away basically everything, including the best kills, dancing alligator, and most importantly, the rap song. It's also presented under the film's original title, Bloody Pom Poms. Hard to say which title is better. Or worse.
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