“Sleepaway Camp” (1983) initially appears to be an imitation of the first two “Friday the 13th” films (1980/1981), incorporating aspects reminiscent of "Meatballs" (1979), but it possesses a sharper quality. Following the pattern set by the original “Friday the 13th,” the identity of the killer remains concealed until the very end. Similar to “Meatballs,” the film centers on teenagers, including boys going through puberty. Characters like these weren’t prominently featured in the "Friday the 13th" series until Part VI (1986), and even then they were not the primary focus. However, the movie's production quality doesn't measure up to those films. Stripping away the profanity and violent scenes reveals a low-budget TV movie feel; I’m being generous with that assessment. Certain elements are excessively broad, such as the portrayal of Ricky’s mother. Despite this, the atmosphere of early 1980s cinema is undeniable, and the fashion choices are entertaining, particularly the brief shorts worn by the male characters. In contrast to most of the “Friday” movies or "The Burning" (1981), the killer doesn't wear a mask, and “Sleepaway Camp” deserves recognition for its disturbingly twisted twist ending. There are other enjoyable details as well, such as Judy’s long black hair (Karen Fields), Meg’s unusual interest in the older, grumpy camp director, and Paul DeAngelo’s physique combined with his comical shorts. The film has a running time of 1 hour, 24 minutes; it was filmed in Argyle, New York, close to Summit Lake, at a former Camp Algonquin location. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB