'Camp': Avalon Fast's Witchy Coming-of-Age Horror Is a Spell You'll Want to Fall Under
A new kind of witchcraft horror has arrived in theaters, and it's not like anything you've seen before. "Camp," the second feature from Canadian writer-director Avalon Fast, blends grief, friendship, queerness, and the occult into a dreamlike coming-of-age story that's earning rave reviews out of Fantastic Fest.
A Camp Unlike Any Other
Zola Grimmer stars as Emily, a young woman grappling with past trauma who takes a job as a counselor at a remote summer camp for troubled kids. But this isn't your average campfire-and-s'mores retreat—Emily and the other counselors soon discover that the camp's remote wilderness setting holds a power far older and stranger than they expected. As they explore their connection to the land and each other, witchcraft enters the picture, and nothing is ever the same.
The film is anchored by a young ensemble cast including Alice Wordsworth, Cherry Moore, Lea Rose Sebastianis, and Ella Reece. Their chemistry is palpable, and Fast has noted that the cast's real-life bond mirrored the on-screen connection. "The girls would all spend time together... they operated as this unit," Fast told Variety.
Magic From the Forest
Shot in the forests of Alberta, Canada, "Camp" wears its setting like a character unto itself. Fast collaborated with cinematographer Eily Sprungman, a childhood friend, to conjure a visual language that felt both sacred and eerie. The director emphasized that the land's significance was central to the story, saying the "sacredness of that and the magic that was there" shaped the film's entire atmosphere.
The film references Renaissance art throughout—including a striking Ophelia-inspired sequence—giving its witchcraft imagery a painterly, classical weight that elevates it beyond standard horror tropes. This is horror as art, not horror as jumpscare factory.
A Festival Darling Goes Theatrical
"Camp" won the prestigious Next Wave Award at Fantastic Fest, signaling Fast as a major new voice in genre filmmaking. The film also screened at TIFF, Sitges, Outfest, and multiple other festivals before Dark Sky Films picked it up for U.S. distribution.
That festival pedigree isn't just for show. Critics are praising "Camp" for its originality and emotional depth. RogerEbert.com called it an "ethereal, dreamlike" experience, while Variety highlighted Fast's ability to conjure "magic from a Canadian forest" in a feature profile. The film sits at an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes from early reviews.
Why This One Matters
"Camp" arrives at a moment when the horror genre is actively expanding its definition of what a horror film can be. Alongside films like "Leviticus" and "I Am Frankelda," it represents a wave of genre storytelling that prioritizes character, atmosphere, and genuine emotional stakes over simple scares.
Fast describes the film simply as "a bunch of girls in the woods doing weird stuff," but the reality is far richer. It's a story about how grief reshapes us, how friendship can be a lifeline, and how the magic we find in connection might be the most real magic of all. For anyone tired of the same old haunted house formula, "Camp" offers something genuinely fresh: a horror film that feels like a warm fire on a cold night, even as the shadows gather just beyond the light.
"Camp" is now playing in limited theaters from Dark Sky Films. A wider release is expected in the coming weeks.
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