Movie Thread

[VoiceOfReasonPast]

Bloody Valentine's bloody good.

There apparently has been a "Sleepaway Camp" remake in the works. It is (was?) intended be part of a new shared universe of classic slasher remakes. The "Slasherverse"! That is the worst idea I've ever heard. Also, a troon actor was cast as Angela.

The good news is that the last update on this was in 2021, so maybe it's been scrapped.

They may have realized that they can't find a troon actor that would make the twist ending be an actual twist.

[Complicity]

They may have realized that they can't find a troon actor that would make the twist ending be an actual twist.

The twist in the remake will obviously be about the evil, Trump supporting aunt forcing the killer to be Cis.
And the movie will ask the open question if it's really a crime to kill transphobes.

[Old Black Man]

It all takes place at a young republicans camp.

[Lindsay's Liver]

I asked ChatGPT to give me a plot summary for a trans-friendly remake of "Sleepaway Camp". Here's what it said:

That's a rich idea with a lot of potential. Sleepaway Camp (1983) is infamous for its shocking final twist, which hinges on the reveal that Angela is a boy—used as a moment of horror and confusion. That twist has long been criticized as transphobic, as it weaponizes gender identity as a source of terror and depicts forced gender nonconformity as monstrous.

A trans-friendly remake would need to fundamentally reimagine the core of the story while respecting the horror genre's tropes. Here's a breakdown of a respectful, thoughtful approach:

Core Goals for a Trans-Friendly "Sleepaway Camp" Remake:
1. Avoid using gender identity as a punchline or twist.

2. Present trans characters as complex, real people—not gimmicks.

3. Preserve the slasher-camp horror aesthetic while offering psychological nuance.

4, Expose and critique the way institutions (like camps) police gender.

5. Potentially center the horror around repression, projection, and violence from others—not from the trans character.

Remake Concept (Working Title: Camp Redemption)
Plot Summary:
A group of teens arrives at a lakeside summer camp with a dark history. Among them is Alex, a quiet and withdrawn trans teen sent by their unsupportive aunt to “toughen up” through camp life. Alex is not the killer—but their presence unsettles many of the campers, especially those harboring bigotry or unresolved identity issues of their own.

As bodies start to pile up, suspicion begins to fall unfairly on Alex. Flashbacks reveal Alex’s trauma—not because they're trans, but because of past abuse, being misgendered, and the emotional toll of being forced to conform.

Ultimately, the killer is revealed to be someone else—possibly a cis person who was also abused or rejected by their family, taking revenge on those who represent their internalized shame. The film ends not with a “reveal” but with a confrontation that forces the camp (and audience) to see how society turns its own fears and insecurities into violence.

Key Changes from the Original:
Angela/Alex is not the killer. The original film’s twist becomes a red herring. Alex is a victim of prejudice and scapegoating.

De-center gender as horror The original’s twist suggests that nonconforming gender identity is terrifying. In the remake, the horror lies in the oppressive systems and interpersonal cruelties that scapegoat gender nonconformity.

Include queer and trans voices behind the camera. This is crucial. The film should have trans writers, consultants, and ideally a trans actor playing the lead to ensure authenticity.

Build empathy through flashbacks and POV. Show the emotional experience of being a trans teen in a hostile environment without turning it into trauma porn.

Tone and Genre:
A 1980s-style slasher with modern psychological horror elements, à la It Follows or The Babadook. Keep the cheesy kills, synth-heavy score, and camp setting, but layer in themes of identity, alienation, and the damage of forced conformity.

You could even lean into the camp aspect (pun intended), making the first half a bit over-the-top and fun, then slowly tightening the psychological screws.

[Old Black Man]

AI wrote that huh?

[Rushy]

Even DHI is not irreplaceable

[CuckTurdginson]

DHI: "Movies should be replaced by AI."

AI: "Replaces DHI with AI."

[Old Black Man]

An AI can never shitpost as we do.

[VoiceOfReasonPast]

"Include queer and trans voices behind the camera"? That's just gonna cause the movie to turn into a violent revenge orgy against TERFs.

(Source: TERFs being the most likely main villains in any novel written by a troon.)

[Lindsay's Liver]

ChatGPT says awkward things all of the time, in my experience, and I find this sentence in its opening paragraph above very awkward.

That twist has long been criticized as transphobic, as it weaponizes gender identity as a source of terror and depicts forced gender nonconformity as monstrous.

YES. Forced gender nonconformity IS monstrous. If I'd been forced to wear dresses when I was a kid, I might be super fucked-up right now.

Also, ChatGPT's suggestion for a "Sleepaway Camp" remake sucks. Maybe I'm old school, but "sensitive" horror makes no sense to me. It's like a vegan steak.