Deer Camp '86

The overall story was good, although the pacing could have been tightened up a bit. The special effects were well done, especially considering the obvious budget constraints. However, the movie lost 5 stars due to a common issue in today's film industry...incredibly unlikeable characters. What I assume was intended to be what the writers imagined "guy talk" at deer camp would sound like was just awful. Basically just guys, who were supposed to be good friends, calling each other b***h and getting in actual fights nearly the entire run time. Trying to force this in is what killed the pacing of the film. Some interesting stuff happened, and then a long stretch of irritating bickering that made me root against nearly all of them, followed by a rushed but ultimately fun and interesting climax that wrapped the story up much better than most films in this budget range. I'm not mad that I watched it, but a little disappointed because it was so close to being much better.

On a hunting trip in Michigan, a group of friends celebrating the start of hunting season stumble upon a series of strange deaths triggered by the murder of a Native American woman in a long series of similar incidents unleashing an avenging Native American spirit now targeting them.

This was a fairly solid and likable genre effort. One of the main aspects found here is the strong build-up to the general storyline where everything here comes together quite nicely. The initial setup of the group coming to the area to enjoy the hunting afforded by the area only to come upon a series of attacks on Native American women in the city which pulls them into its sphere due to the involvement of the latest victim being a bartender they befriended who becomes the latest victim in a series of violent outbursts in the area. This idea of merging the two stories together by making the group become the new victims of the hunter once they arrive in the woods after being caught up in the rampage makes this a rather solid setup with a fantastic touch on the treatment of indigenous tribes with how that sets everything in motion here. The other enjoyable factor with this one is the series of antics on display with the use of the supernatural killer coming to life and taking out those responsible for taking out other Native American women. Given a fantastic motivation for the rampage, the whole thing taking place out in the woods where it can use its powers and manipulation of the environment to provide a slew of intriguing sequences of it appearing to take down the hunters one by one. Attacking the couple by the lake, the big ambush on the main cabin, and the traps laid out in the woods to stop it have a lot to like keeping the action frantic and furious with the series of attacks present her involving the great kills on display with the impressive look of the killer also coming together to all provide the film with a lot to like. There are some issues to be had with this one. Among the main drawbacks to be had with this one is the immensely disproportionate pacing present here where its rather bizarre tempo leaves this one quite uneasy and uneven. There's way too much time spent on the stereotypical racist town of backwoods rednecks with their treatment of the Native Americans in the town setting up the idea of what's going on but going way beyond the point of it being as useful as it should with how mow time is spent on it, while other scenes involving the team being stalked in the woods by the creature or it taunting the others with it which leaves this to make the encounters fun if immensely quick in comparison. It also leaves little time for explanations about everything as we get to know very little about the creature hunting them as a result so it's powers are cool if entirely unexplained as well as it's backstory, which along with a completely lacking sense of humor bring this down.

Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

This is a solid effort with strong character development and a semi-original story. The special effects, especially the practical ones, were outstanding-some of the best I've seen in a while. The CGI was good, though it could have been improved. The villain or monster was well-conceived, though the hunting sequences felt overly lucky. The film opens with a truck hitting a deer, so luck seems to play a big role in their game hunting. I didn't recognize any of the actors, but they all delivered excellent performances. There are some genuinely funny moments, including a scene involving a tick that was both hilarious and an effects masterpiece. The weakest aspect was the attempt to set the film in 1986; it didn't feel authentic to the era. The only 1980's thing was the pocket Simon. I would have believed it was 1996 instead, and if that had been the chosen setting, this would have been a perfect debut for director L. Van Dyke Siboutszen.

I recently watched Deer Camp '86 (2022) on Shudder. The storyline follows a group of friends from the city who head out for a deer hunting trip in the year 1986. Along the way, they stop at a bar where one of the guys becomes smitten with the bartender. Nothing serious happens, and the hunters continue on to their campsite in the woods. The next day, however, the bartender is found dead, and the police suspect the hunters might be involved. Meanwhile, something eerie in the woods seems to be stalking them.

This film is directed by L. Van Dyke Siboutszen, making his directorial debut, and stars Noah LaLonde (My Life with the Walter Boys), Jay J. Bidwell (Shaken Daddy Syndrome), Arthur Cartwright (Vanishing on 7th Street), and Tina Joy (The Secret Children).

Deer Camp '86 is one of those movies where everything is exaggerated on purpose. The dialogue, interactions, and humor feel like they're trying a bit too hard, with jokes that come off as crude for the sake of being crude without much punchline. The friendships are portrayed well, but the horror elements often rely too heavily on CGI and aren't particularly scary. The twist at the end wasn't as clever as intended, leaving me wanting more from the story.

In conclusion, Deer Camp '86 is a very average addition to the horror genre; for something in a similar vein but with better execution, I'd recommend watching Tucker & Dale vs Evil. I'd rate this a 5/10.

This is one of those movies that has everything going for it except for a few problems in the writing. The performances are good, it's well-shot and edited, the cast and crew seemed to be having fun (bloopers are scattered throughout the end credits), there are impressive practical FX, the music compliments the visuals, and there are a few creepy moments.

On the writing end, issues begin with the characters, who are one-dimensional. There's a cop who's only there to spout exposition, the mean fat guy and the loser whom he bullies, the psycho war veteran, the token black guy, a bland redneck, and a blander final boy. This is a low-budget horror movie, and I can forgive the character shortcomings, so let's move on... It wants to be a comedy, but it's really not that funny, and the pacing is off. There's one particular scene that only exists to make viewers squirm - they try to frame it in a supernatural way, but it doesn't work and feels like it belongs in a Jack Black movie or something. But my biggest problem is with the twist, which I won't spoil because it comes totally out of the blue. After the credits rolled, I immediately started the movie over, expecting to find some foreshadowing that I'd missed, but it just ain't there. I did enjoy the movie more the second time, though.

Deer Camp '86 works as a throwback (although it feels more early-'90s than mid-'80s), and it's definitely better than the crap mainstream Hollywood has been churning out lately, but it's neither the masterpiece nor the disaster that other reviewers have claimed. I'd imagine it works best with an audience and intoxicants.