Camp Hell (2010)

I rated this movie with 2 stars because the special effects are pretty good. However, I was waiting to see what type of psychotic drugs (herbal or man-made) these young adults were being given...to my dismay there were no drugs involved. Not that I wanted these young adults to be given drugs of any kind. The plot itself was a little bit more on the psychological thriller side versus the horror side. The script could have had more cohesiveness than it actually did. It's not a movie that you can just jump in the middle of and have the plot make sense. The producers should have emphasized the fact that Jesse Eisenburg only had a moderate cameo instead of listing him as a "major" character.

As they say, "Fiction is better than fact" -- or they should say that if they were honest.For one thing, aside from throwing Dante's fiction away, this movie keeps switching between an evangelical point of view and a Catholic point of view. I don't think even Pentecostal Catholics hold the positions that were represented in this film. For that reason alone, none of these characters are actually real. (But maybe I'm not quite in tune with Evangelical Catholics -- quite possible.) But secondly, there was a set-up at the beginning about a coven. Up to the half-way point of the movie, there was some sort of clan in the woods that seemed to be building on this concept. But this is basically dropped as far as the plot goes, except for an amusement park spot, which moves the plot forward only slightly and not nearly as much as the opening suggests.Thirdly, the movie takes time to set up some interesting theological concerns either about Catholicism itself or Christianity in general. To this end, some decent, if not nuanced, dialog was written. And then, oops, where'd that go? And why have Eisenberg in the field at all? This makes little sense from a monetary perspective. He talks for 20 seconds in the film, maybe? (Correct me someone.) All in all, it promises interesting philosophical insight, but doesn't fulfill. The problem is, it could have: Good cast, good questions, and then... ....what?!?Maybe the director will tell me that I just don't get it, but then it's not my job to get something that is intentionally or unintentionally obscured from me.

I've liked movies that make religious fanaticism look like a scare tactic, and this film depicts that concept very well, but also takes it a little farther. The starring cast does a nice job, Dana Delany and Andrew McCarthy do a very nice job with their roles, although one is much more merciful than the other, when it comes to their son, who goes to the camp. Now, I'm a Christian too, but believe me, I'm far from perfect. I've also had the Bible shoved down my throat a few times, because I'm a liberal Christian, but if/when someone/anyone wants to question that, all bets are off! I don't agree with fire and brimstone preaching or scare tactics to win new believers, but I've seen plenty of it, through an old church and Christian movie productions Cloud Ten Pictures. I don't like shoving my opinions down others' throats, until they try it on me! Now, for those complaining about false advertising-granted Jesse Eisenberg only has a brief role, sorry for being so blunt, but, get over it! This isn't a horror film, this is true, as well, personally I'd call it a spiritual thriller. I also liked it because it shows what may happen if the message gets pushed too hard.

Based on true events? Um, not really. The director took his own experiences in a super-strict Catholic summer camp and greatly exaggerated them to produce Camp Hell. The best part of this movie, for me, was watching the ridiculously hateful, opinionated vitriol that the priest would spew to any and all campers who did anything remotely wrong. Seriously, calling a girl a tramp and a whore just for talking to a boy alone at night while standing a good 6 feet away from him? So wrong!Laughing at the indoctrination (read, brain-washing) of young, impressionable young adults and reaffirming all of my doubts and dislikes about religion in general was kind of fun. I could not bring myself to take this movie seriously in any way.So, if you want a good laugh, enjoy mocking religion, and/or are anti- religion, you'll have a good laugh. Otherwise, this is a movie with no resolution. It just kind of winds down to an end having accomplished nothing.Watch it for free, catch it on TV, but don't waste your money on a rental fee.