A group of rowdy collage kids on their summer vacation are headed on a trip to the Colorado woodlands and along the way they pick up a young bloke who tells them that they can camp at his parent's campsite. Which the guy's father doesn't like anybody staying about because of the legend of the Shaman that haunts the nears woods and which he has been trying to capture with all of his booby traps he has sent up in the woods. Not too long the kids soon discovered that there is more to this legend, as they become the next target for the Shaman.
Like of so many derivative and endless slashers that filled the 80's 'Camping del terrore' aka 'Body Count' is no exception to this trend. But actually even though it was overly familiar and you know how it would end up, director Ruggero Deodato of 'Cannibal Holocaust' fame delivered a competent slasher that has certain edge about it. That's not to say I'll hold it up that high, as the acting is mainly clumsy and the dialog is atrociously inane and the outcome had me a little peed off. Even the violence kind of rips off some other slashers, but the deal here is it wasn't that tedious to sit through, sure it was incredibly stupid, but that's not to say it wasn't entertaining. The characters here we've seen all before and that especially goes for the fat guy who acts like an annoying pest with his jokes. They have to be the most stupid teens I've come across, while watching any slasher flick! The group are far from likable with their obnoxious and loud-mouthed personalities. Maybe it takes to long to eventually wipe them out one by one, but they make for a good body count, which the film doesn't disappointed at. The young cast might have been hopeless but there were some recognizable faces that steadied the ship, with the likes of Charles Napier, David Hess, Mimsy Farmer and a small appearance by John Steiner. They tried their best but the script, which was overly simple and flows with awkward passion, which the teens struggled with. Pretty dire stuff in that department.
Director Ruggero Deodato does create some certain aspects that enhance the viewing experience. First off is the choice of location, which is definitely one of the pulling factors. The mountainous woodlands are a sight to see and have an very alienating feel that tells you that your never safe, no matter if its daylight or night. The sound effects was another eerie part which went together well with the chiming score that punctures the film with its upbeat tempo. Also the camera-work incredibly stylistic with the well placed shots and angles that boast tight execution. Nice amount atmosphere is mounted with some moments of gore and nasty violence, but not entirely a massive amount of gore. Which fans of 'Cannibal Holocaust' would surely be disappointed at. The violence is hardly disturbing, but more so cheesy and unbelievable. There's fair amount of okay deaths that are staged, but most of the deaths involve that of sharp and pointed objects. Maybe because of that it was a tad too repetitive. The same can be said about the constant visiting to the bathhouse, which has some attractive allure about it that the teens just can't leave it alone. The costume design of our Shaman kind of looked daggy, but still it looks like they went to great lengths in that department. The effects too won't make you give it a stand up applause, because they are rather implemented in a wonky approach.
The plot is a flimsy one which has no continuity to it but to stage tense set pieces of shocks and deaths. In between the deaths are a lot pointless shenanigans. The actual idea of the Shaman and the mythology of the beast/human should've been far more interesting than what we got here, but nothing is really mentioned about it expect for the beginning and end. What we get are teens acting like fools and getting involved in sexual acts and giving the viewer some nudity, which the Shaman just can't stand, while the other sub-plot involves the sheriff having an affair with the wife of the guy who owns the campsite. Nothing comes as a surprise, maybe the ending, but the killer isn't that much of revelation and you get your usual red herrings, illogical lapses and clichés, which become obligatory in these types of films. Even people seem to come and go without any one taking any notice about it, as if it's nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing is clearly explained and we're left with a confusing muddle when it comes to its conclusion. Even with the supposed hints that are popped in, especially that of the teddy bear. We're left more so in a bemused state of mind to what it all equals. While some sequences leave you going "huh?" others are laughably bad with some girls having an odd running style when trying to get away from the killer you'll be yelling "Just run girl!" as usual theirs something stopping them in their tracks.
Better than expected, but not by a huge margin. Basic run-of-the-mill slasher that's worth a look if you enjoy the sub-genre.
Like of so many derivative and endless slashers that filled the 80's 'Camping del terrore' aka 'Body Count' is no exception to this trend. But actually even though it was overly familiar and you know how it would end up, director Ruggero Deodato of 'Cannibal Holocaust' fame delivered a competent slasher that has certain edge about it. That's not to say I'll hold it up that high, as the acting is mainly clumsy and the dialog is atrociously inane and the outcome had me a little peed off. Even the violence kind of rips off some other slashers, but the deal here is it wasn't that tedious to sit through, sure it was incredibly stupid, but that's not to say it wasn't entertaining. The characters here we've seen all before and that especially goes for the fat guy who acts like an annoying pest with his jokes. They have to be the most stupid teens I've come across, while watching any slasher flick! The group are far from likable with their obnoxious and loud-mouthed personalities. Maybe it takes to long to eventually wipe them out one by one, but they make for a good body count, which the film doesn't disappointed at. The young cast might have been hopeless but there were some recognizable faces that steadied the ship, with the likes of Charles Napier, David Hess, Mimsy Farmer and a small appearance by John Steiner. They tried their best but the script, which was overly simple and flows with awkward passion, which the teens struggled with. Pretty dire stuff in that department.
Director Ruggero Deodato does create some certain aspects that enhance the viewing experience. First off is the choice of location, which is definitely one of the pulling factors. The mountainous woodlands are a sight to see and have an very alienating feel that tells you that your never safe, no matter if its daylight or night. The sound effects was another eerie part which went together well with the chiming score that punctures the film with its upbeat tempo. Also the camera-work incredibly stylistic with the well placed shots and angles that boast tight execution. Nice amount atmosphere is mounted with some moments of gore and nasty violence, but not entirely a massive amount of gore. Which fans of 'Cannibal Holocaust' would surely be disappointed at. The violence is hardly disturbing, but more so cheesy and unbelievable. There's fair amount of okay deaths that are staged, but most of the deaths involve that of sharp and pointed objects. Maybe because of that it was a tad too repetitive. The same can be said about the constant visiting to the bathhouse, which has some attractive allure about it that the teens just can't leave it alone. The costume design of our Shaman kind of looked daggy, but still it looks like they went to great lengths in that department. The effects too won't make you give it a stand up applause, because they are rather implemented in a wonky approach.
The plot is a flimsy one which has no continuity to it but to stage tense set pieces of shocks and deaths. In between the deaths are a lot pointless shenanigans. The actual idea of the Shaman and the mythology of the beast/human should've been far more interesting than what we got here, but nothing is really mentioned about it expect for the beginning and end. What we get are teens acting like fools and getting involved in sexual acts and giving the viewer some nudity, which the Shaman just can't stand, while the other sub-plot involves the sheriff having an affair with the wife of the guy who owns the campsite. Nothing comes as a surprise, maybe the ending, but the killer isn't that much of revelation and you get your usual red herrings, illogical lapses and clichés, which become obligatory in these types of films. Even people seem to come and go without any one taking any notice about it, as if it's nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing is clearly explained and we're left with a confusing muddle when it comes to its conclusion. Even with the supposed hints that are popped in, especially that of the teddy bear. We're left more so in a bemused state of mind to what it all equals. While some sequences leave you going "huh?" others are laughably bad with some girls having an odd running style when trying to get away from the killer you'll be yelling "Just run girl!" as usual theirs something stopping them in their tracks.
Better than expected, but not by a huge margin. Basic run-of-the-mill slasher that's worth a look if you enjoy the sub-genre.