Cheerleader Camp: Grit, Giggles, and Gruesome Scrimmages

Alright, mates, so I just watched “Cheerleader Camp” – again, yes – and I’m swirling with thoughts. You know, it’s like that time I tried mastering my aunt’s herring salad recipe: confusing, a tad chaotic, but darn memorable. You’re thrown into a whirlwind of pom-poms, dreamy-eyed cheerleaders, and… horror? Yes, horror, like that one time your flight to Gothenburg was delayed, and you ended up sitting next to the guy who wouldn’t stop talking about his cat’s diet.

Now, I’m not here to spill spoilers or lecture about cinematography (though I did notice a particularly cheeky nod to 80s slashers), but when you’ve got characters like Betsy Russell and Leif Garrett flexing their acting muscles in campy glory, it’s hard not to chuckle and cringe simultaneously. Remember Leif Garrett, the teen heartthrob? Seeing him in a horror setting’s like finding snus at a posh Stockholm deli—unexpected, but hey, why not?

This film, made by the spirited John Quinn (a director whose name might not make the Svenska Filminstitutet’s front page anytime soon), is a time capsule of campy weirdness and genuinely bizarre twists. One moment you’re tapping your feet to a cheer routine, the next you’re peeking through your fingers as the horror unravels.

I think what got me the most was the unique blend of laughs and frights, kind of like a midsummer’s day with unpredictable Swedish weather—sunshine, then suddenly rain. There’s this barebones simplicity to the movie, an unapologetic embrace of absurdity, which oddly enough, reminded me of Swedes line-dancing at a Silja Line’s karaoke night. You really can’t take it too seriously, folks.

Would I recommend it? If you’re a fan of quirky trips down eighties lane or fancy a chuckle with a side of slasher vibes, go for it. It’s like jamming lingonberry sauce on your pancakes – not for everyone, but oddly satisfying if you’re in the right mood. So grab some popcorn—maybe some kanelbullar if you’re feeling it—and dive into the cheerfully twisted universe of “Cheerleader Camp.” Skål!

Check the trailer below