"Camp Pleasant Lake" is what all good, low-budget, indie horror films should be: fun, gory, and satisfyingly violent, with just enough cheese to make you laugh.
The "big names" - Jonathan Lipnicki, Bonnie Aarons, Michael Pare, Andrew Divoff, and Robert LaSardo - all turn in great performances. Divoff is particularly creepy (as he should be in the role) and Aarons shows she can play evil just as well outside of her "Nun" character. And Lipnicki leaves it all on the screen and is clearly enjoying getting away from the "cute kid" roles he played when he was young.
And speaking of kids... Lacey Burdine turns in a fantastic performance as "Young Echo Meadows." She more than holds her own in scenes with far more seasoned actors. I would be shocked if her career doesn't take off.
I won't bother re-capping the entire film as some people feel is necessary. The plot is simple: horror fans pay to spend a weekend at a "Camp of Terror" and things get bloody.
There is plenty of blood and some fun kills. It's not a film for the squeamish - but these films never are. Does it always make sense? Who cares? We watch horror movies to see the killer(s) kill and the victim(s) die. It's about the entertainment value - and "Camp Pleasant Lake" has a HIGH entertainment value.
I'm giving this a 9/10 for an indie horror film. Is it "The Godfather?" Of course not! But in this genre, it's far better than most and should be rated accordingly.
Hopefully there will be a sequel - I'd love to see this masked killer do some more damage.