Review: CAMP BLOOD 8: REVELATIONS (2020)
Is anyone even trying to pretend the Camp Blood films are an actual series anymore? Or are they finally admitting they’re slapping the name on any slasher that involves a summer camp? The most recent chapter, Camp Blood 8: Revelations tosses away everything from the last couple of films. And then both bring in new characters and bring back others from the first, fourth and fifth films.
A volleyball team and their coach are heading for a tournament in Utah. This involves taking a shortcut along a dirt road in their Mercedes sports car. Rather annoyed at being mistaken for an SUV it breaks down just past a sign for Camp McGa, which is serving as Camp Blood this time out.
Dolly, (Phoebe Dollar, Werewolf in a Women’s Prison, Sunset Society) suggests they split up to look for a cabin that should be nearby. What they don’t know is that cabin is home to The Clown (Kyle Ian Fisher) and his mother Sheila (Sally Mullins, Curse of Pirate Death) with whom he has a very close relationship.
While the others wander around the woods Renee (Laura Dromerick, The Haunting of La Llorona) stays at the car to sunbathe topless. And, of course, supply some of the film’s gratuitous nudity. She is, of course the first to meet The Clown. Will any of her teammates avoid meeting the same fate?
Once again looking like it’s deep in the woods setting is behind someone’s house in the suburbs Camp Blood 8: Revelations is better than the last of the franchise I saw, The Ghost of Camp Blood. That however isn’t saying much. However, at this point, any improvement in these films is welcomed.
Writer/director Dennis Devine (Lizzie Borden’s Revenge, Alice in Murderland) wavers between playing Camp Blood 8: Revelations straight and playing it for laughs. For instance, there’s a running joke that involves the girls meeting people in the woods who warn them to leave. But they can’t give them any help. That includes a survivalist played by Shawn C. Phillips (Urban Fears, Dead Ant) and Derrek (Domiziano Arcangeli, House of Flesh Mannequins, Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf) a ghost only Ashley (Rhei Liu) can see.
The effects are mostly CGI blood spray and a rather bloodless decapitation. Certainly, nothing to write home about. There’s not much in the way of suspense either. There is, however, just enough going on to keep the thought of turning it off at bay. And Sheila’s character adds just enough depravity to make me think of Troma’s Mother’s Day. Camp Blood 8: Revelations isn’t close to being in its league though.
Available to stream on Tubi and elsewhere, Camp Blood 8: Revelations is at least watchable. This is more than I can say for a lot of killer clown and/or backwoods slasher films lately.