Camp Recommendations To Keep The Beetlejuice Vibes Going

In early September, Tim Burton decided to get us in the Halloween spirit early with the release of Beetlejuce Beetlejuice, an aptly named sequel to his 1988 horror-comedy classic. While this most recent iteration doesn’t reach the heights of the original, it’s still full of laughs, scares, and extravagant set design. The sequel has enjoyed a warm reception from fans, as well as general audiences,  having grossed over 300 million dollars at the worldwide box office. A key difference between Beeetlejuice Beetlejuice and most of Burton’s recent works is his revived commitment to tone and atmosphere. The film features extravagant production design, zany music cues, and traverses its conception of the afterlife through thoroughly committed, comedic performances from the entire cast. Many would describe this film and its original predecessor as rather camp. 

The term camp has defied a consensus definition since it came to be in the late 19th century and this article by no means intends to deliver one. For the uninitiated, however, camp is meant to describe an embrace of the artificial, to perform theatrically with commitment. As Susan Sontag wrote in her seminal essay Notes on Camp, “The hallmark of Camp is the spirit of extravagance.” Camp has always been linked to the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re ever looking for a great example of camp sensibility, treat yourself to a drag show. Back in 2019, the BBC went further into this term and its history as it was that year’s theme for the Met Gala.

Halloween is, arguably, the most camp holiday of them all, so we thought we’d get you in the mood with a few recommendations. For those not into horror, worry not, as there is an array of tones represented below.

The Evil Dead (1981)

A group of college students drive up to a cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway, everything gets turned upside down when they discover a cursed book that unleashes a demonic force upon them. Made on a shoestring budget, this horror-comedy oozes with an unhinged tone thanks to its creative camera movements and editing choices. 

The Evil Dead marked the feature film debut of Sam Raimi, who would later take his energetic style to the original Spiderman trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. The indie horror flick quickly became a cult classic among horror fans and has spawned multiple sequels, a series, and several reboots. If you happen to be enchanted by this unholy book of the dead, there’s much more to explore.

But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

A queer indie classic, this coming-of-age comedy takes aim at conversion therapy camps with a relentless sense of humor. Megan (Natasha Lyonne) is your classic all-American girl, she’s on the cheerleading team and dates one of her school’s top jocks. Unfortunately for her parents, Megan doesn’t really like getting intimate with him and seems awfully interested in her cheermates so they send her off to “sexual redirection” school. If you need to know anything else about how this film tackles the genuine absurdity of homophobia, just know that RuPaul plays one of the men in charge of getting these teenagers “back on track” and utters the line “I myself was once a gay.” Director Jamie Babbit proves, much like Sam Raimi, that you can craft a world that feels truly its own without the help of a major studio budget. But I’m a Cheerleader also features early performances from Natasha Lyone (Russian Doll, Orange is the New Black), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine, Manchester by the Sea), as well as a cameo you most certainly won’t see coming.

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Nothing brings out the truth like a dead body. The most recent film on the list is also the most Gen-Z fueled horror-comedy to date. An assortment of wealthy 20-somethings (some lifelong friends some have just met) plan a drug-fueled hurricane party in a family mansion somewhere in, you guessed it, the woods. They decide to play a party game which takes a dark turn once dead bodies start popping up. While the whole ensemble is great, Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby, Bottoms) and Myha’la (Industry, Leave the World Behind) shine bright playing to their respective strengths as their already tenuous friend group starts to fall apart. A hidden gem but soon to be a cult classic, keep it mind for your October movie nights. 

True Stories (1986)

The West like you’ve never seen it before. The only narrative film directed by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne follows him as he plays Narrator, a stranger visiting a small Texan town as it gets ready for a talent show to celebrate its sesquicenntenial anniversary. It’s an episodic musical that takes us through different members of this small town, peaking into their lives as they prepare for the big day. If you’ve ever seen a Talking Heads music video, or the recently re-released concert film Stop Making Sense, then you know Byrne has a winking yet sincere way of looking at the world. Have you ever wondered what a ranchera song written by Byrne would sound like? Ever asked yourself just how good of a singer John Goodman (The Big Lebowski) is? Then look no further.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)

Much like a British bachelorette party, we’re going to Spain with this one. Full of betrayals and cruel intentions, this melodramatic comedy follows Pepa (Carmen Maura) as she tries to figure out why her lover left her all of a sudden. In her quest for the truth she encounters a slew of eccentric characters, including an unforgettable taxi and a dashingly young Antonio Banderas. A bright color palette, featuring Almodóvar’s signature red, the film is a feast for the eyes and ears, even if you’re reading along to the subtitles.