By Jeremy Perez
From the extremely unique mind of Jane Schoebrun, director of I Saw the TV Glow, comes a film that has an equally singular identity in today’s movie landscape, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. It’s proof that a modern “elevated” horror movie can remember to have fun, along with its multilayered commentary on the slasher genre.
Hannah Einbinder stars as Kris, a young director who is working on a reboot of the Camp Miasma franchise. She comes across the original film’s star, Billy, played by Gillian Anderson, and the journey they go on is a wholly original tale that plays with the slasher genre and bends it to such a meta degree, that you can’t help but need to watch it at least twice. The bond between these characters is built through conversations and lived experiences that show themes of art, perspective, and time. In their relationship to one another, it dares to figure out the line between horror and pleasure and how closely the two are related. The movie’s third act answers the question in such a way that still has me determining my own stance on it.
This film works on two levels, the first being this modern “elevated” horror think piece that actually has interesting questions and conversation points, while being self aware enough to poke fun at itself about how it’s operating as a movie. The other level is the gory, flesh, and liquid fun that cranks it to eleven at points. Both are handled pretty well, but a partial issue of mine comes from the balance of these tones. I almost wish the film leaned one way, even just a bit more. It definitely works in both tones very well, but there are extended periods of time where it stays in one mode, which makes it jarring when you switch to the other mode for just as long before finding a fair balance again. I’d honestly love to see the whole Jane Schoebrun Friday the 13th-inspired Camp Miasma movie. Just as much as I’d love to see Schoebrun’s TED talk dissecting 80’s horror movies and their tropes, breaking down how they might not have aged well but still have a cultural impact on the queer community. With Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma being a mishmash of the two, it definitely lends itself to being one of the most unique and interesting films of the decade.
I genuinely enjoyed Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, although this so clearly will not be in everyone’s wheelhouse. But I truly implore anyone and everyone, within the proper age range, to go and check this out. As spooky season approaches, this is one that will be for those looking for something different in the horror genre. It’s for those seasoned horror fans, as well as for those who want to see something they might not have ever seen before. With the two stars having wonderful chemistry, the fantastic design and use of the pseudo slasher icon Little Death, and the way the film explores its own themes, there is plenty to enjoy here. Whether or not it’s your cup of tea, I think this is required viewing for the movie landscape of 2026, as it truly won’t be like anything you’d see this year. Despite its balancing flaws, I recommend seeing this as soon as you can.
Rating: 8.5/10