A group of camp leaders sit with each other and an awkward silence briefly interrupts their lively conversation. “Don’t say the Lord’s name in vain,” says one of the camp’s leaders, Rosie (Cherry Moore), hinting at sarcasm. She talks about the Lord that way because the camp they’re in is Christian but only in name. The newest leader, Emily (Zola Grimmer) had the same hesitations about working there, since she has baggage already. Maybe a retreat into the woods is good to clear her head after being responsible for two accidental deaths. But she realizes what everyone else is hinting at, that the camp has its activities like every other. Children come in and do activities depending on the weather, swimming when the sun’s out, crafts if not. But when the children are asleep or away, the leaders seem to have powers that Christians don’t have.

There are two kinds of horror films, or any films in general – the first borrows stories that are more familiar. Recent, better horror films belong to that first group that showcases creatures that elicit viewers’ familiar fears. The second group has ideas and stories that feel fresh but only because earlier versions go too far back. Avalon Fast’s Camp belongs in the second group because it’s been generations since campsite horror. That or, once again, despite me watching enough horror films, I don’t have a background on this big genre. I’ll be nice at the end of this review which means that I’ll have to play the bad cop for this part at least. I’m usually nice to actors, but it feels like these actors need rehearsal periods to sell this weird premise. Dialogue, execution, and pacing need some work because frankly, movies should keep people awake.

I’ve been traumatised enough by horror films that rely too much on shock value to hide lack of quality. Camp, in doing the exact opposite, runs the risk of losing enough viewers unless they watch this in theatres. Once again, repeat viewings reap enough rewards here as it sells the premise better than the actors do. The film’s (anti)climatic scene has Emily hungover after a camp party while everyone else is beautifully alert. Maybe it’s just genetics like Rosie says or maybe it’s something else she and the leaders do at night. And eventually, they let Emily into the fold, answering any questions she might have about what they do. The art direction is as 50/50 as a lot of the elements but some set pieces transform the camp cabins. Candles and lamps make the characters glow like the witches that the girls gays and theys always idolize.

Watch Camp in select Canadian theatres.