Late Night Classics – Cheerleader Camp

I put off seeing Cheerleader Camp for years because I was still in my horror snob phase where if a flick was corny and cheeseball, it meant that it didn’t warrant a look and it was a waste of my priceless time. That is a thing of the distant past because now I embrace those low-rent horror flicks that I used raise my snowzer to. Severals years back I gave Cheerleader Camp a chance via my Netflix account, and while the movie is moronic in every sense of the word, you can’t turn away.

It hits all of the staples of the 80′s slasher genre: hot women, sloppy gore, and cheese-arama music. Add to it two white men rapping so bad it makes Vanilla Ice look like the King of Hip Hop and what you have is a ‘Late Night Classic’ you have to see as soon as possible.

Betsy Russell’s career skyrocketed to all new heights with her roles in Saw III-VII. Cheerleader Camp will never be held in the same regard as the cash cow franchise from Lionsgate, but it does have a huge cult following and many of my friends have requested a look back at this solid entry that is a cut above the direct-to-video stench we see released today.

Jason Bene: Were you ever a cheerleader in school?

Betsy Russell: I was in Pop Warner. It wasn’t for school. One time I tried out for the school and it was all girls judging and one guy, and I got one vote. I was a Pop Warner cheerleader and I was in the dance club and the choir and all that. I should have been a cheerleader, but unfortunately girls weren’t always one hundred percent on my side as they are now.

Jason Bene: The cheerleading in the film is nowhere near the intensity of a film like Bring It On, but I’m sure the filmmakers wanted some sort of on the job training for the cast.

Betsy Russell: No. They didn’t care. They wanted somebody they thought would sell their movie.

Jason Bene: After doing nudity in Private School and Tomboy, was it a relief to know the character of Alison Wentworth keeps her clothes on?

Betsy Russell: Yeah. I was so paranoid by that time. In one scene I am in a nightgown and a big homely shirt. I was trying to be the serious actor type without doing nudity. Even though there were still those types of movies I was trying my best to be the best I could and take it seriously and all that. It was a relief in the way.

Jason Bene: Megan Fox received loads of press  for her turn as a demonic cheerleader in Jennifer’s Body. I thought you were just as hot as she was, maybe this needs to be settled in a crossover sequel - Cheerleader Camp vs. Jennifer’s Body.

Betsy Russell: I’d probably be her mother. It’s all good.

Jason Bene: Leif Garrett shows up as the leading man. What can you tell us about working with the one time teen idol?

Betsy Russell: The funny thing is that I used to watch the show he was on called Three for the Road. That was a big show in my life. I was twelve years old. For the life of me I couldn’t remember if I had a crush on him or Vince [Van Patten], and when I filmed the movie I knew of him. I did the movie and I met Leif and it was all great and fun and everything. I had known him as a teen idol and I was very excited to be working with him. Right after that movie wrapped I went home to L.A. and broke up with my boyfriend and started dating Vince, and then I married him. It was really funny.

Jason Bene: I chuckle at the fact that he is the stud of the film. I guess girls in the 80′s swooned over mullets and guys who stuff their crotch with a sock. I was thinking is this a parody?

Betsy Russell: [Laughs] It probably was and we didn’t even know it.

Jason Bene: Why were all the girls drooling over this guy? There must not be anyone else around.

Betsy Russell: [Laughs] I know. It’s pretty funny. He has a great face but unfortunately he lost his hair.

Jason Bene: Me too. I don’t have any now.

Betsy Russell: But you are not a teen star or whatever.

Jason Bene: The best thing you can do is just shave it all off.

Betsy Russell: Exactly. That look doesn’t look good on everybody though.

Jason Bene: It took my a while to get to the point of taking it all off. One day I saw my hair in the mirror and said it needs to go. A sequel was never made, but you were in an unrelated movie from a different production company called Camp Fear. Was that a psuedo-sequel or was that a stand alone picture?

Betsy Russell: No. I was actually talking about that movie last night. My ex-husband and I got offered the movie thinking nobody will ever see this and it will never even come out on video. We are going to make all of this money in three weeks and move on. I haven’t even seen the movie. I’m sure it’s terrible. I know that the trailer is on You Tube. We had fun making that movie. I’ve never seen it. I’m probably glad I haven’t. My boyfriend at the time starred in that.

Jason Bene: I think Bloody Pom Poms is a more catchy title. Do you know why it went out as Cheerleader Camp?

Betsy Russell: I don’t know.

Killer Film would like to thank Betsy Russell for giving us the chance to turn back time and do a retro flashback on a film from the heyday of the VHS era. It is availale on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment.