Cannibal Cheerleader Camp (2008) - By Josh Samford

Film Reviews: Cannibal Cheerleader Camp (2008) - By Josh Samford
Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2009 @ 23:05:00 Mountain Standard Time by Duane

I have to admit, I am fairly easy to please. I consider myself to be as intellectual a film fan as any, but I won't lie to myself and shy away from the fact that as much I enjoy the works of Truffaut, Godard, Fellini, Lynch and Cronenberg - sometimes a man just has to go back to basics. Get back to that caveman need to see blood spilled or check out absolutely stunning young women being mauled and butchered. Okay, maybe that last bit takes things a little too far but I'm sure most everyone gets the point. You throw some blood on screen and give me some eye candy to oggle and you've got me sold. It seems director Paul Busetti has similar ideals as he took things a step further and threw "Cannibal" in his title. Granted there's not much in the cannibal action department here but it just makes for such a sleazy title and that goes a long way. Where would Hell Comes to Frogtown, Cannibal Apocalypse or Girl's Rebel Force of Competitive Swimmers be without their outrageous titles? Cannibal Cheerleader Camp definitely features one of those attention grabbing titles but also delivers in all ways that create a entertaining horror film.

Cannibal Cheerleader Camp tells a story that does not focus on cannibals nor cheerleaders. Don't fret however, it does tell the tale of a group of insanely hot young women who have taken their time out to spend some time at a local defunct camp where they all share room and board. After the death of another young woman at a nearby gentleman's club, the girls are genuinely spooked. Things go from spooky to downright horrifying when that same killer - shows up. Now the girls are being tracked down one by one and the killer is sniping them off one by one. Who will survive, and what will be left of them? That's right, a Texas Chainsaw Massacre reference in my plot summary! Somewhat fitting since it appears Busetti himself is a horror geek as well. Throwing in many references to the Evil Dead (the cabin in the woods of course, but there are also "fake shemps" in the final credits) as well as numerous horrors throughout the eighties - the film works as a loving tribute to the entire horror genre and it's many subgenres. You have the whole "camp" vibe going on with a couple of girls wearing "Counselor" shirts as well as the various genre cliches that are often turned on their head. There are homages to Excorcist III at times as well as the classic "freeze frame with title credits and copyright information" at the very beginning that you may not recognize from my description but will instantly recognize it once you see it.

There's blood, there's guts and probably the most beautiful women I've ever seen in an independent film. Certainly the most concentrated amount! Six absolutely stunning girls spread over eighteen minutes with two of them spending much of that time nude and fondling one another? Buy this DVD! All are beautiful, and chances are once you've seen it you'll be carousing MySpace looking for profile pics as I must ashamedly admit that I have now done. I haven't quite taken to stalking Jenna St. James or Tara Bowen just yet - but give me time, a tank of gas and some binoculars. They will be mine!... or not at all. Regardless, Cannibal Cheerleader Camp turns out as a fun and stylish riff on eighties horror cinema but done in the tone of a dramatic thriller. With exceptional photography and with a cast who perform very well, the short comes off as far outside of the limitations one expects from a $700 budget. Busetti can apparently stretch a budget and must be one heck of a cinematographer, because the picture simply looks amazing. Featuring a brilliant use of framing throughout and awesome lighting, it's hard to believe such a film could be made for so little and be shot in only one weekend. I definitely recommend any and all go out and pick the film up simply to support these great artists. I hope to see more from Mr. Busetti and his great crew, as well as the gorgeous women the guy somehow manages to attract.

If you'd like to find out more about this film, you can check out the film's website here.