CHEERLEADER CAMP (1987) movie review

Cheerleader Camp (1987) d. Quinn, John (USA)

When troubled teen Betsy Russell (who later enjoyed a post-millennial career rebound after being cast as Jigsaw’s ex-wife in the Saw franchise) heads off with her chums to a remote cheerleader camp, the competition and members of her own squad start turning up D-E-A-D, sis-boom-bah.

Gimme a T! Gimme an A! What’s that spell? Why, T&A, of course, which is the strongest suit this not-bad-at-all '80s slasher flick plays, trotting out the likes of Playboy Playmate Rebecca Ferratti and Penthouse Pet Krista Pflanzer, as well as the nubile charms of seconds-away-from-porn superstardom Teri Weigel.

In addition to the lashings of female nudity – and a surprising amount of gore (the garden shears gag being one of the highlights) – we are also given front row seats to the demise of former teen heartthrob Leif Garrett’s career. (Rapping, Leif? Why? WHY??) If there’s a bit too much Meatballs-styled teen comedy in the first half for your tastes, things pick up considerably in the second act, and while viewers might guess the killer’s identity, the ending is delivered with a particularly stinging sense of poetic injustice. Worth checking out.