The spooky urban legend, traditionally a tool for striking terror into wide-eyed youngsters round the campfire, has long been beloved by horror creators; so much so that you could be forgiven for labelling She Came From the Woods as just another in a long succession of summer camp slashers. However, director Erik Bloomquist (co-writing with Carson Bloomquist) has taken the now classic subgenre and woven it through with an agreeable mix of gore, ghosts, possession, and more than a hint of slapstick spoof; a playful poke at what for many was a golden era in the history of horror films.

Set in 1987, the nostalgia is strong; muscle shirt-clad, bleached mullet guy, Rambo-esque sporto guy (complete with bandana), shy geeky lovestruck guy, and a selection of girls with neon scrunchies holding up their permed ponytails supply the ultimate stereotypical set of the 80s. The end of summer is upon Camp Briarbrook; your typical all-American setting for sun, fun, etc. for kids whose parents need a break before school’s back in session and the daily grind cranks up again.

Run by the family McCalister (no, not the McCalisters with difficulty keeping track of Kevin), it’s headed by Gilbert (William Sadler), alongside his daughter Heather (Cara Buono), who has two sons among the crew of camp counsellors. Peter (Spencer List), to whom life is but a series of frat house-style antics only he seems to find amusing, is the younger brother of Shawn (Tyler Elliot Burke), who’s evidently had enough of his shit by now to last a decade of summer camps. As Shawn busses the last of the campers away, leaving the others to wrap up for next year, spirits are high among the younger staff. With no kids to be responsible for and blithely under the misapprehension that nothing can possibly go wrong, the counsellors cut loose and party. This involves an annual bloodletting ritual, invoking the spirit of Agatha, an allegedly long-dead camp nurse of dubious character, forever looking for people to heal. No harm in that, right?

Well, I’m not going to tell you, because as you doubtless know by now, NO SPOILERS!  Suffice it to say that things do take a turn for the worse, but with enough diversion from the norm to keep interest going. This isn’t some mortal weirdo lurking in the shadows, picking off hapless pre-teen campers as their responsible counsellors, at their own risk, harness their resourcefulness in vain attempts to protect them.

Bloomquist manages to pull the rug out from under us just as we’re settling into the familiar slasher groove; to have the ability to make seasoned horror fans sit up and take notice isn’t easy in these days of worn-out tropes, but he manages it. Things get personal as a ghoulish, decades-old secret is unmasked, the consequences of which are set to put more than a damper on any party plans. If you can picture The Breakfast Club in a dark forest with a rampaging mob of bloodthirsty 10 year-olds possessed by a resurrected urban legend, then you get the notion.

While there’s violence and bloodshed aplenty in She Came From the Woods, it’s well-balanced by comedy. The role reversal will fill spoof fans with glee; call me twisted, but there’s something about possessed children brandishing crutches and kicking the crap out of shrieking counsellors fending them off with fire extinguishers that delighted me. Whether you’re in this for the horror, the comedy, or both, She Came From the Woods is a good watch from any angle. The plot is a little too overworked, but there’s no flat spots, and if you were a kid in the 80’s you’re probably gonna love it.

7 out of 10 Flaming Marshmallows