User reviews

This is one of those movies that has everything going for it except for a few problems in the writing. The performances are good, it's well-shot and edited, the cast and crew seemed to be having fun (bloopers are scattered throughout the end credits), there are impressive practical FX, the music compliments the visuals, and there are a few creepy moments.

On the writing end, issues begin with the characters, who are one-dimensional. There's a cop who's only there to spout exposition, the mean fat guy and the loser whom he bullies, the psycho war veteran, the token black guy, a bland redneck, and a blander final boy. This is a low-budget horror movie, and I can forgive the character shortcomings, so let's move on... It wants to be a comedy, but it's really not that funny, and the pacing is off. There's one particular scene that only exists to make viewers squirm - they try to frame it in a supernatural way, but it doesn't work and feels like it belongs in a Jack Black movie or something. But my biggest problem is with the twist, which I won't spoil because it comes totally out of the blue. After the credits rolled, I immediately started the movie over, expecting to find some foreshadowing that I'd missed, but it just ain't there. I did enjoy the movie more the second time, though.

Deer Camp '86 works as a throwback (although it feels more early-'90s than mid-'80s), and it's definitely better than the crap mainstream Hollywood has been churning out lately, but it's neither the masterpiece nor the disaster that other reviewers have claimed. I'd imagine it works best with an audience and intoxicants.

This is a solid effort with strong character development and a semi-original story. The special effects, especially the practical ones, were outstanding-some of the best I've seen in a while. The CGI was good, though it could have been improved. The villain or monster was well-conceived, though the hunting sequences felt overly lucky. The film opens with a truck hitting a deer, so luck seems to play a big role in their game hunting. I didn't recognize any of the actors, but they all delivered excellent performances. There are some genuinely funny moments, including a scene involving a tick that was both hilarious and an effects masterpiece. The weakest aspect was the attempt to set the film in 1986; it didn't feel authentic to the era. The only 1980's thing was the pocket Simon. I would have believed it was 1996 instead, and if that had been the chosen setting, this would have been a perfect debut for director L. Van Dyke Siboutszen.

Better than average for the budget. It has something it wanted to say and did it moderately well.

It is pseudo 80s. But doesn't really matter. It has some humor though most of the jokes are a bit bland. A nice change of pace with some enjoyable Northern Michigan fall foliage.

Suburban kids go to the country to hunt. Terrible use of and stereotypical depiction of local country folk. The suburban kids are barely given much better to work with. They eventually get to the cabin and start to go hunting. Then some stuff happens and things build to the finish.

A bit of a slow going. Eventually it gets moving along. With a rushed ending. It has decent practical effect, some moderate cgi and some not great cgi. A little heavy handed on being against hunting.

Overall I am not upset I watched it. Though I am not sure when or if I would ever watch it again. It does wrap up in a reasonable way. Which is too bad, because with some tweaks and changes this could have been really entertaining. Instead it an okay way to pass your time when you are in a mood for a horror flick.

A bit of gore and a bit of language. In a movie that could have been good and ended up just mediocre.

On a hunting trip in Michigan, a group of friends celebrating the start of hunting season stumble upon a series of strange deaths triggered by the murder of a Native American woman in a long series of similar incidents unleashing an avenging Native American spirit now targeting them.

This was a fairly solid and likable genre effort. One of the main aspects found here is the strong build-up to the general storyline where everything here comes together quite nicely. The initial setup of the group coming to the area to enjoy the hunting afforded by the area only to come upon a series of attacks on Native American women in the city which pulls them into its sphere due to the involvement of the latest victim being a bartender they befriended who becomes the latest victim in a series of violent outbursts in the area. This idea of merging the two stories together by making the group become the new victims of the hunter once they arrive in the woods after being caught up in the rampage makes this a rather solid setup with a fantastic touch on the treatment of indigenous tribes with how that sets everything in motion here. The other enjoyable factor with this one is the series of antics on display with the use of the supernatural killer coming to life and taking out those responsible for taking out other Native American women. Given a fantastic motivation for the rampage, the whole thing taking place out in the woods where it can use its powers and manipulation of the environment to provide a slew of intriguing sequences of it appearing to take down the hunters one by one. Attacking the couple by the lake, the big ambush on the main cabin, and the traps laid out in the woods to stop it have a lot to like keeping the action frantic and furious with the series of attacks present her involving the great kills on display with the impressive look of the killer also coming together to all provide the film with a lot to like. There are some issues to be had with this one. Among the main drawbacks to be had with this one is the immensely disproportionate pacing present here where its rather bizarre tempo leaves this one quite uneasy and uneven. There's way too much time spent on the stereotypical racist town of backwoods rednecks with their treatment of the Native Americans in the town setting up the idea of what's going on but going way beyond the point of it being as useful as it should with how mow time is spent on it, while other scenes involving the team being stalked in the woods by the creature or it taunting the others with it which leaves this to make the encounters fun if immensely quick in comparison. It also leaves little time for explanations about everything as we get to know very little about the creature hunting them as a result so it's powers are cool if entirely unexplained as well as it's backstory, which along with a completely lacking sense of humor bring this down.

Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

The overall story was good, although the pacing could have been tightened up a bit. The special effects were well done, especially considering the obvious budget constraints. However, the movie lost 5 stars due to a common issue in today's film industry...incredibly unlikeable characters. What I assume was intended to be what the writers imagined "guy talk" at deer camp would sound like was just awful. Basically just guys, who were supposed to be good friends, calling each other b***h and getting in actual fights nearly the entire run time. Trying to force this in is what killed the pacing of the film. Some interesting stuff happened, and then a long stretch of irritating bickering that made me root against nearly all of them, followed by a rushed but ultimately fun and interesting climax that wrapped the story up much better than most films in this budget range. I'm not mad that I watched it, but a little disappointed because it was so close to being much better.

Bored me to tears. Really the only thing going for 'Deer Camp '86' is a scene where some dorky guy gets a deer tick lodged in his ball sac, and removed by knife. As great as that probably sounds to your typical horror nut, it's not what you're thinking. No blood. No ball guts. Nuthin.

Mostly, this movie is a bunch of bros in the woods, drinking beer, shooting at deer, seeing some vague specter in the sights of their guns, and nothing happening. When something finally does happen, it's CGI junk.

Thank goodness I waited until it hit Prime. I would've been PO'd if I'd spent money to rent this. The people saying this is destined to become a cult classic either had a brain tumor for breakfast, or they were paid, or they don't many decent films. Sorry not sorry.

Fun chill watch, seriously campy. You can't take it too seriously, that's not the point. Kept thinking it took place in the 90s instead of the 80s but it didn't really impact the story at all. A bunch of one liners had us cracking up. The storyline is somewhat predictable, but there were a few points that we were sitting back going "wait, that doesn't make sense" before it corrected itself 10 minutes later.

Really loved that the characters were like caricatures of people you know. We had our favorites immediately, and the one you were encouraged to hate had really good reasons to hate them. Made you root for them to get their slashing.

I have this movie a chance, but the pathetic story line, idiotic dialog, and poor film quality makes this a very hard movie to enjoy. This seems to have been made by first time film makers. Performances are not believable, the situations do not make sense, and the overall story is basically hogwash. There was a couple of excellent special effects that helps it slightly, I really struggled to enjoy it and found almost nothing very interesting or worth while. I really can't recommend it unless you are really very bored and can't find anything else to watch. This was tedious and entirely forgettable.

The movie made me jump a couple of times and is definitely good for some laughs. I am not a hunter but I am married to one and the mom to a couple of hunters. I have not been out to any of the men-only deer camps but based on the many stories I have heard over the years the movie embodied much of what I imagine goes on at camp: jokes, pranks, razzing, camaraderie, rustic cabin, camp fires, and fun.

Once the movie is officially released, I suspect it will become a tradition to watch every year to prepare for deer camp for the fellas.

I recommend checking it out! It was spooky and fun at the same time. Enjoyed by hunters and non-hunters.

For being a unknown Amazon prime find, I was impressed with this movie. As others have said, doesn't really feel very 80s. The busted up hunting truck would have been basically brand new in 1986 if you notice little details like that. Thought it was funny that the heaviest guy in the group by far was the one to suggest running from the monster saying "only the slowest person needs to worry" bro you've got 100 lbs on everyone lol.

Out of all the low budget horror films, this is a pretty good watch with a nice twist at the end that I wasn't expecting. Only thing that didn't make sense was the "city guy" not having any reaction when witnessing a murder, but oh well.

The "hunters" looked like they were outfitted by Todd Snyder. No actual hunter would wear clothing this nice. The actors seemed miscast. And the exaggerated stereo types of small town people was unnecessary (racist, homophobic, etc).

The movie took place in 1986. Besides the "Simon" game, nothing by way of set design or costume made you think "yeah this is the '80s." One highlight was the beautiful Michigan autumn scenery. I've never been to Michigan but I'm now interested.

The acting was decent. And again, the scenery is gorgeous. It was as though it was from the Michigan tourism department!!!!

Six dudes blabbering, drinking, more drinking, and then drinking again (did I mention drinking?) only to get killed one by one. The characters are disgusting, nasty, bland, unlikeable, and incredibly annoying. If that's your idea of a good time, then this movie is perfect for you!

The funny thing is, it claims to take place in 1986, but the only element from that era is the car they drive. There's nothing else that even remotely resembles the '80s, including the soundtrack. If a movie is set in the '80s, you'd expect to hear some awesome synthesizers and beats, right? Right???

But since the director seems to be completely clueless about the '80s (his real name is probably Chad, and L. Van Dyke might just be his pen name), all you get is a beat-up SUV from the '80s and nothing more. It's a shame for retro movie lovers like me. Someone should tell this person that having the characters wear checkered shirts while drinking canned beers constantly, isn't enough to make movie look retro.

Aside from that, the story (what story, hahaha) is super generic and nothing you haven't seen before. You'll probably start checking your watch or be snoozing by the 20-minute mark. If not, you might start hating your life by the 30-minute mark and question what led you to this point.

If you've made it to 60 minutes and are still hanging in there, be prepared for a wellness check soon. The authorities might come knocking to figure out why you're still watching this movie. They'll just want to ensure you haven't lost your sanity.

By the 80th minute, if you're still alive and not drooling with your neck bent awkwardly from your brain turning to mush, get ready for some excitement. The movie will finally kick into gear. Unfortunately, the ending isn't anything new, and the supposed twist (which isn't really a twist at all) is not surprising in the least.

In short: Don't watch it. It's terrible and an insult to retro movies.

If you like ignorant foul mouthed people who you will never figure out how they got together for a hunting trip, you may like the movie. Their first kill is by their truck. They then stop at the local watering hole to drink and drink some more before heading to a cabin. One of the bartenders is a native woman, who tells them to respect the land. Being slobs, they cannot, and while they are there, the woman get assaulted and killed. It seems each time a native woman gets killed, a native creature rises forth to render terrible things on those who were involved. The hardest part of the movie is trying to figure how the group came together, as they seem to be a mixture of respectable men and total slobs, plus a veteran of combat in Lebanon. If the actions of the men tire on a person, they won't care much for the movie. The best part is the fall scenery in the forest.

Let me start with the ending...it is a twist and not a very good one. Having said that I am not into spoilers, so you'll find that out for yourselves.

The fact that this is listed as a comedy is kinda not true. The banter between the "boys" is not really funny, it is just moronic. The character Buck is a bad mixture of characters. The actor is a wannabe John Goodman with a little John Candy mixed in, I suspect that the name "Buck" is a tip of the hat to Candy's Uncle Buck. This guy is NOT even close to either of them!

The storyline starts with one of the boys falling MADLY in love with a barmaid - we are talking lifelong love here. And in the end this rather dumb aspect plays a role in the ending.

The very positive reviews are likely local yokels who were part of the film or connected to people who were, IN FACT one rave reviewer admits as much!

There were good moments despite bad acting and dialogue which was a majority of nasty banter between extremely immature characters. Cut that banter out and the movie would run about 20 minutes!

Still and all it is worth watching, although when it finally ends, you are gonna let out a long slow WTF!

Last night my teenage son Ethan and I got invited to the Vogue Theater in downtown Manistee to watch Deer Camp 86. The horror/comedy/thriller movie was shot and produced locally in Mason County in northwest Michigan and several of my friends were involved in the process. We absolutely loved it!!! We laughed and jumped the whole way through it. It was far better than most "Hollywood" produced movies. This movie will go on to do great things! The acting was excellent. The special effects were top notch, especially considering the super low budget. The cinematography and writing were fantastic!!!

I was expecting a stereotypical jump scare, slasher horror film. I did not expect to laugh throughout the film at the dialogue between the six hunters. Deer Camp '86 combined eye catching cinematography, coordinated costume design, special effects (which were next level!), hometown vibes, and nerve wracking sound to keep me hooked through the whole movie. The plot, while easy to follow, was refreshing in its depth from start to finish. A horror film that can compete with The Cabin in the Woods and a deer camp film as perfect for opening day as Escanaba in da Moonlight. I cannot wait to watch Deer Camp '86 again!

This is the must see movie of the year. The special effects are outstanding and the overall storyline is original. Yes it's a horror, yes it's a comedy and yes its good.

Soon to be some of the most memorable lines you can remember from a movie. The movie will have you laughing during the movie and for years to come. Grab a beer (maybe a few), gather your friends and go enjoy the show. If you are a resident of Michigan, this is a must see! This movie was filmed in Michigan, with an 80's era. Like you stepped back into time, they did a great job coordinating clothing and slang from that era. Great job and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.

I didn't know what to expect walking into this film. It started somewhat slow but quickly started to tap into classic (and local culture) tropes and unroll the story for both quality laughs, building thrill, and an engaging plot line.

We were laughing hysterically at parts, and genuinely jumped a few other times. It was a heartfelt movie with multiple layers of humor and meaning. It effortlessly delivered easy laughs, midwestern charm, and deeper cultural commentary all in a well produced, efficiently edited package.

Also appreciated how it didn't try to something it was not. It was a fun little romp in the weeds with tongue in cheek energy throughout. Highly recommend it for a great Friday night popcorn thriller!

Sooo not sure why this Cabin in the Woods took place in 1986 if not to cash-in the 80s nostalgia craze. Really nothing about this felt 80s.

Continuing into Ahhctober 2024, I had a BLAST here. It was equally hilarious and felt so slasher in the woods, even though barely any slashing takes place for a very long time.

All-around Weekend-Deer Hunters stop at a bar first and when the most interesting character gets killed, the rest of the clan are targets. A little exposition is explained - just enough to get back to the boys being so-to-be slaughtered boys.

Aside from some TERRIBLE explosion CGI, most felt like great practical effects. This all felt VERY low-budget and at the same time, felt very well-acted/well-shot. I really had a blast here and I'm glad I found this gem.

Just no need to set it in 1986 except for the racism/no cell phones, etc. Heck, how it ends, that's all irrelevant anyways.

***

Final Thoughts: For me, personally, it helped there was a cute (and most hilarious character) bear, a gorgeous Latino and a Pretty Boi. I wonder if this is what's it's like to hunt with friends. You know, aside from the stalking undead Native American killer.