In a report published August 6, director Jane Schoenbrun discussed their highly anticipated third feature, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. The slasher comedy, which follows a young queer filmmaker attempting to reboot a cult horror franchise, is scheduled for release on August 7.
The film stars Hannah Einbinder as Kris, a Sundance darling working to reboot the Camp Miasma franchise. The plot involves a murderous entity named Little Death, played by Jack Haven, who slaughters teen counselors at a sleepaway camp. Kris travels to an isolated compound to locate Billy Presley, the original final girl of the franchise, who lives on the campground where the original movie was filmed.
Schoenbrun, who previously directed the Sundance hits We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and I Saw the TV Glow, noted that this film represents a shift in their personal perspective. While their previous works explored identity and the early stages of gender transition, Schoenbrun stated that for this project, they wanted to embrace joy and themes of sexuality and gender rather than mining otherness.
The director described the film as a way to explore the connection between fear and arousal. Schoenbrun utilized diverse visual research for the film, dividing inspiration into two categories: Flesh, which included erotic spy thrillers like Lust, Caution, and Fluids, which focused on gore inspired by films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Schoenbrun also explained that the film addresses the necessity of safety when exploring vulnerability. This is illustrated through a scene where characters Kris and Billy take a break to eat candy after Kris experiences a panic attack, reflecting the director's views on consent and feeling comfortable in one's skin.
The film premiered at NewFest in New York earlier this summer. Schoenbrun indicated that the movie is intended to be enjoyed by a community of people coming together to celebrate the themes presented on screen.
