I usually hate when a sequel explains what happened in the original but this movie needed it and thankfully they did it. Once again there is basically no plot and the acting is not so good. This time they don't go for the over the top screaming, which is definitely a good thing. The ways the people get killed are much better than in the original, although this time lots of dead people continue to breath or move their eyes. I'm sure other reviews on here say it sucks but it's just as good as the original, just different. Give it a chance.

So last night I was up late and ran across "Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers" on cable. I set back with all anticipation of finding every bit of this film as a horrible mockery of the horror genre. I was surprised. to find that that was not the case at all. Now I remember watching this film a few other times in the past but was pretty sure that I didn't like it. I love "Sleepaway Camp" and I still sometimes stop and gasp over the exposure seen. That film was a classic to me. I know to most of the younger people today the old stuff is boring and ridiculous, my nephew even said that they were dumb because they were not scary! Can you imagine. If I rated every movie based on that my DVD collection would be very minimal.For me it was never about being scared for real! It was always anticipating what it was gonna look like when the head smashed or some body part was removed. Mostly for me the best thing was always seeing the endless variety of kill scenes and watching as the characters walked right into their deaths even though I would scream ecstatically at the screen for them to not go see what was taking d*ck so long, don't go into the room at the end of the hall just because you think that you heard something. The different concepts of a slasher or psycho and watching their story play out against dark nights and eerie music was an epic moment for me growing up. Kinda still is!Wow I really do ramble …anyway about "Sleepaway Camp 2" . Yeah some of the actors were really bad and seemed intimidated by the camera, but not all were bad and the parts that did seem over exaggerated kinda made sense. The story stayed tight from the first film right up until the end of the series. For Angela's character though at times seemed insufficient was either brilliant on the directors part or really bad. I believe it was genius. She played crazy right. Mostly she didn't know she was crazy and by god she wanted a good camping experience without all the teenage bullsh*t and distractions. I do wish that she would have been just a bit more expressive and over the top with the crazy but her character was ahead of her time. There could have been a bit more tension and suspense building up to the kill seen, but so what that doesn't take away from the film if you realize what your watching. Angela is the star – she is not a typical slasher and this was not a spoof film as the TV description would have you believe.This was a dark comedy straight out. It was about a girl obsessed with kumbiya's and s'mores and games and camping with other respectable people but never getting to have that because everyone around her was miserably selfish and disruptive. It was really closer to the modern horror/comedy than an 80's spoof. This is gonna be a bad film if you go into it thinking you will experience jaw clinching suspense and big scares and sh*t. If you go in realizing that your watching a classic cult film about a disturbed young lady that just happens to kill the other campers for not playing along the right way and just absorb the fact that she is skipping and whistling while she is bashing peoples heads in, setting tents on fire in the same frame of mind as when she is singing and fishing and every other normal camp activity then I think more people will see this film as real classic that was ahead of its time.

Angela Baker (Pamela Springsteen) has undergone years of therapy, electro-shock and sexual reassignment surgeries, and finally landed herself a job in the last place she should be working -- Camp Rolling Hills.How did this strange sequel come to be? It can be credited to one man. Producer Jerry Silva thought the first part was too dark, so he bought the rights to the franchise to give them more of a comedy angle. (Many see no connection between parts one and two due to Angela being recast, but those people are overlooking Silva.)While one wishes Felissa Rose had taken this role, Pamela Springsteen (Bruce's sister) does a fine job. And while she may now be a successful photographer, horror fans will always recall her role in the "Sleepaway Camp" sequel. She seems to have distanced herself from the film, unfortunately.The film is more campy humor (pun intended) rather than campy horror, especially with the Brat Pack references (not coincidentally connected to the fact Emilio Estevez's sister Renee is a main actress here). Some versions have more gore cut than others, and I believe Scream Factory has the most uncensored edition (while Anchor Bay had the most trimmed). Overall, the film is not even that bloody, though, and could probably have passed for PG-13 if Valerie Hartman was not taking her top off every five minutes.The film is especially campy when some lines are delivered awkwardly, almost like a soap opera. This means either the actors involved were bad, not enough takes were made, or most likely both. Director Michael Simpson acknowledges the total shooting time was about two weeks and they could not afford to hire "real" actors.Interestingly, while they were largely free of union rules, they had the Department of Labor looking over their shoulders to keep the child actors safe. Because it was delivered by a minor, one line strangely had to have the word "nips" changed to "party hats". Another actor needed a stunt double for a makeout scene, and a third could not be exposed to the violence of their character's death, so they could be involved with their death scene at all!The film stands out for its 80s metal soundtrack, something that was not uncommon for horror films. Some, like "Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors", may be better known for their Dokken songs than their actual plots. The songs are not as iconic here, but have that same 80s metal edge that will put you in the right mood. Bonus points for including the Dead Milkmen. If I recall correctly, this was a year before their big break.And keep your eyes peeled for Walter Gotell (playing Uncle John), the veteran actor from "The African Queen" and the James Bond franchise. How he sunk this low in his career is a mystery, but he adds just a hint of gravitas to the picture that no one else seems to be able to.As they always do, Scream Factory has pulled all the stops for this release. The films come out in a DVD-BD combo pack, and are loaded with extras. Writer Fritz Gordon and director Michael Simpson offer an insightful commentary. There is also a lengthy documentary with interviews from just about everyone. A featurette exploring the locations. And even a short film called "Whatever Happened to Molly?" Unfortunately, Pamela Springsteen declined to be involved, but they make the best of it.

An few years has passed... Angela (Pamela Springsteen) has become an real girl, she changed her identity and she's now an consoler. But these young teenagers are practically the same way, they nearly treated Angela as a young teen. Now she can't take it anymore, she decides to kill these unhappy campers one by one.Directed by Michael A. Simpson (Sleepaway Camp 3:Teenage Wasteland, Funland) made an amusing slasher horror movie with few humorous moments of black comedy. It is made watchable, thanks to Springteen's winning performance as Angela. Renee Estevez (Her brothers are Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen and Ramon Estevez) is likable in the movie. There is some clever kills in this, although not as gory as you might imagine.DVD from Legacy Entertainment, DVD has an OK Pan & Scan (1.33:1) from the VHS source but the night-time sequences suffers on the DVD. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Sound is fine. Anchor Bay DVD is supposedly Uncut. "Sleepaway Camp 2:Unhappy Campers" is certainly entertaining for the die-hard slasher fans. Truly slow going at times but the short running time helps. (*** ½/*****).