Judy

I've read a few negative reviews here for this little short film and I don't get what the problem is. It's not meant to be some sort of academy award winning film. It's meant to as a fun nod to a hilariously over the top character from an often overlooked 80's slasher film. You remember? 80's Slashers. Those often laughable cheaply made films that a ton of us used to check out by the arm loads from our local mom and pop video stores and enjoy every Friday/Saturday night. I can't understand the blinders that some folks put on these days as if the movies of our past are much more of a serious business than they are. They were fun and that's what "Judy" is. We get to see a continuation of a character who we've all joked about over the years, thanks in part by the hilarious performance of Karen Fields (the title character of Judy). Did she live? Did she die? We get those answers in this little short film directed by Jeff Hayes of Sleepawaycampmovies.com.

It's not meant to be taken so serious. It's just something that was done for fun. And on that level, it totally delivers. Karen Fields plays Judy again and to the same degree as she played the character in the original Sleepaway Camp. She's funny, over the top and well...she's Judy.

At the end of the day, and agenda laced reviews aside, I happened to enjoy it. It was great to see a brief appearance of one of my favorite 80's slasher characters. We always remember the killers in these films. But it takes a special supporting character to be remembered. And Judy fit that bill. To each their own because I am thrilled to see this included on the recent Scream Factory Blu-ray set.

Why would anybody take the worst character (played by an dreadful 'actress') from Sleepaway Camp and make a movie with her as the star? Her acting hasn't improved since the 80s, she seems to think gurning, poking her chin out and opening her eyes wide passes for acting. Watch out Meryl Streep. Truly awful.

JUDY is a short film by Jeff Hayes and stars Karen Fields, who reprises her role of Judy from the cult classic film, Sleepaway Camp. Once a horrible person and having been taught a lesson via a brutal attack from a camp serial killer as a teenager, Judy returns to us as a vigilante who now saves children instead of bullying them.

I found this short to be quite clever. Many who watch Sleepaway Camp never stop to think that it's never made clear whether or not Judy is counted among the dead in the film. Her fate is left unknown, which leaves room for the speculation this film has provided us with.

I applaud Jeff for what he's done here. Even with some minor bugs, such as a reflection of a crew member in the glass window in the kitchen scene, I was having such a great time watching this, I really didn't care. It just added to the fun. The cast appeared to be having a ball in making this as well, and it shows - in a good way.

Seeing Karen Fields as Judy once again was such a treat and she stepped back into Judy's shoes perfectly; a little older, a little wiser, but most certainly Judy in all her snarky splendor.

Jeff also did a great job with the kill scenes. Gore hounds should approve! All in all, this was a really good short. I'm happy that this short now exists in hard copy on the newly released Sleepaway Camp Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack by Scream (Shout) Factory.

I would like to see Jeff do more of these shorts and would love to see his take on where other characters from Sleepaway Camp might be now.

Everyone should give this short a chance. Judy fans will not be sorry they did.

Karen Fields reprises her role as unhappy camper Judy in this short film follow-up to "Sleepaway Camp" and "Return To Sleepaway Camp" to inflict some bloody revenge on two abusive parents.

In this brief review, a distinction should be made: while the film itself is cheap, not terribly well-acted, and unnecessary, this should not reflect on its creator, Jeff Hayes. Hayes has, perhaps more than anyone, worked hard to keep the legacy of "Sleepaway Camp" alive, and was the first person to successfully get Karen Fields back into acting after a three decade hiatus.

The film itself really adds nothing to the Judy character (other than to confirm that she survived) and may have been better off not being made. But this was a fan film for a website, not an attempt at a professional short film... maybe it should not have ended up on the "Sleepaway Camp" Blu-Ray, but at least be aware of what it is.

Judy (2010)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

Karen Fields returns as Judy, the character she played in the 1983 cult film SLEEPAWAY CAMP. Well, we learn that Judy survived her attack and is now working as some sort of councilor. She breaks into a home and ties an abusive deadbeat dad up as well as his girlfriend who is overlooking her own daughter. From here Judy decides to teach them a lesson.

It's somewhat hard to judge this 16-minute film. On one hand, it was made for the fans of SLEEPAWAY CAMP and was in no way, shape or form meant to be some sort of Oscar-caliber movie. On the other hand, even though it's just meant to be fun, the sad part is that it's actually not fun at all and really adds nothing to the SLEEPAWAY CAMP series or even the Judy character. Yes, we learn that she survived the film but so what? There's just nothing done here in the short running time that makes this worth being connected to the series.

It reminded me of the MR. ROBBIE short, which was meant to be a promo for MANIAC 2 with Joe Spinell but the actor died before it could be funded. In that film he played someone who went after those who abused children. The story here is pretty much the same but very little to nothing is actually done with it. We see the Judy character scream at two people before teaching them their final lesson. The CGI effects are horrendous and there's just nothing "fun" going on.

The only real reason to check the film out is to see Fields in her first screen appearance since SLEEPAWAY CAMP. For the most part I thought she was fun in the role and managed to make you see that younger Judy in some of the ways she delivered her lines. Director Jeff Hayes, who runs the official SLEEPAWAY CAMP website, pretty much does everything here. It was a nice attempt but in the end it just really didn't pay off to anything.