“Both Einbinder and Anderson are complete knockouts in this campy, unique horror”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY MUBI
Is there anything more tantalising than Gillian Anderson playing a highly seductive, reclusive actor who becomes the object of desire for Hannah Einbinder? Didn’t think so. It’s precisely the reason that Jane Schoenbrun’s new horror Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma needs to be on your radar.
The film follows queer filmmaker Kris (Einbinder), who is ready to direct the reboot of the long-running slasher franchise Camp Miasma. After becoming fixated on casting the reclusive actor who played the “final girl” in the original film, Billy (Anderson), Kris heads to the real Camp Miasma to become immersed in a world of psychosexual mania. What Kris doesn’t know is that the central character of the slasher franchise, a bloodthirsty killer known as Little Death (Jack Haven), is more than just fiction…
Both Einbinder and Anderson are complete knockouts in this campy, unique horror. With sexual chemistry that bubbles off the screen, the film dives into queer desire with gusto. Anderson, with a sexy Southern drawl that is likely to have you spellbound, is completely unnerving in the role of Billy. Einbinder also keeps audiences on their toes in the bright-eyed role of Kris.
For fans of I Saw The TV Glow, audiences will be glad to know that trans identity is still at the core of Schoenbrun’s new film. Jack Haven, who played Maddy in Schoenbrun’s previous project, takes on the campy, utterly fascinating role of Little Death. It’s within this narrative thread that Schoenbrun offers an ode to the slasher genre itself, reminding us of the power of storytelling and cinema, particularly for queer audiences.
Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma oscillates between the present-day infatuation between Kris and Billy and scenes of the original Camp Miasma film. Queer stars like Quintessa Swindell and Eva Victor all feature in these flashbacks, encapsulating the intriguing mystery of this hit franchise. Jasmin Savoy Brown also makes an appearance in the film, starring as Kris’ poly partner, bringing unexpected humour and lightness to the darker moments of the film.
In particular, the film’s central exploration of sex is truly unique. Both Billie and Kris’ characters explore what pleasure truly means, featuring some rather steamy scenes together. Trust us, you don’t want to miss it. But more than scenes of Gillian Anderson showing off her impressive fingering skills, the film also perhaps taps into the ways that queer desire is often shunned by society. It focuses on experiences outside of the heteronormative idea of what sex truly is.
Schoenbrun’s new film will keep audiences continually guessing what will happen next, and then leave them dumbfounded at the result. It’s an utterly wild ride, in short.
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