Cult film star Felissa Rose, known for her role as Angela in the 1983 slasher Sleepaway Camp, has stated she hopes to see a prequel to the classic horror film soon. After its release in the early 1980s, the film has since reached cult status, and spawned three sequels, from 1988 to 2008. The original film launched Rose's career, and she has gone on to become a prolific horror film actor and producer.
Though the subsequent sequels to Sleepaway Camp have garnered less and less acclaim, the franchise still has a dedicated following. The slasher genre had reached somewhat of a peak during the mid-80s, with classics such as A Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday The 13th being prime examples that have stood the test of time. Even into the subsequent decade, the popularity of the horror subgenre continued, seeing the likes of Scream and Candyman lead the way at the box office in the 1990s. During both decades Sleepaway Camp sequels were being put out, and despite their varying degrees of success, they cemented the Sleepaway Camp franchise as a slasher mainstay. Despite news of another film being dormant since the late 00s, Rose has offered an update on her thoughts for the franchise going into the new decade, and leading up to the original film's 40th anniversary.
In an interview with Bloody Disgusting, Felissa Rose discussed the current state of the Sleepaway Camp franchise. Rose starred in the 2008 sequel Return To Sleepaway Camp, as well as the unfinished 1992 sequel Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor, which was edited and released in 2013. She spoke about the possibility of a prequel:
"I will say this, because there’s been so much looming around the Sleepaway Camp universe for so long. Will they remake it? Will there be another sequel? I know that something’s in the works. I don’t even really know exactly how it will be, but I can tell you that definitely like - we just had our 37th anniversary - I would love to say that, mark my words, by the 40th, something will be out. Now, if they ever consulted with me, I would love to see a prequel to the Sleepaway Camp world. Because this is one of those movies that is driven by the circumstances that happens in the beginning of the film. And I would love to understand who is Aunt Martha? What happened to her in creating all that she did with Angela and Ricky? Why didn’t Angela go to camp with Ricky the other summer? With all of this, I would love to see a prequel. I would love to make the prequel. So, definitely we haven’t seen the end of Sleepaway Camp."
With the original Sleepaway Camp opening on a short flashback, precedent for a prequel is more than likely. The Sleepaway Camp ending is nothing short of iconic, so seeing how Rose's Angela gets to the deranged state that she does by that point would provide not only more context, but possibly deeper appreciation and intrigue for a scene that is already such a classic. As the actor mentions enthusiastically, there are even more questions that can be answered by a prequel, regarding other characters and a greater understanding of the opening flashback. With most of Sleepaway Camp sequels over the years seeming slightly more like cash-ins as opposed to engaging story continuations, a lead star approved prequel could be a chance to reinvent the franchise, having taken some time out from the last poorly received installment. This time, the story road map will already be set out, with a meaningful conclusion already at the finish line, and could possibly catapult the Sleepaway Camp franchise away from it's so-bad-it's-good reputation.
Rose seems rather confident that something to the effect of a Sleepaway Camp prequel will see the light of day sometime soon, especially considering the original's impending 40th anniversary. A prequel, if done right, could really legitimize the franchise and bring it back to popularity, more so now with somewhat of an 80s horror resurgence seen through the likes of 2018's Halloween and the upcoming new Scream movie. If and when the Sleepaway Camp creators reach out to Rose, it's sure to be for good reason.
Source: Bloody Disgusting