Screen Drafts (Home Version) XV: Top 18 Camp Horror Films

Four of us, Nick, Scott, I (Dennis) and my wife Vanessa played at game of the popular collaborative podcast Screen Drafts to determine the top 18 camp horror films. We are a bit different than Screen Drafts only in that we have more vetoes and overrides and generally watch thirty or so films before each game to prep. Our friend Mario provided trivia to determine placements, and we all had a nice dinner and a few hours of solid film discussion.

 18. Thirteen Ghosts (2001) Nick won position A (picks 18, 14, 9, 6 and 1: it comes with one veto and he had an override that carried over from the last time we all played.).  Mostly, he felt he liked the film and the designs of the ghost and the house very much. He thought the deaths were creative and did not like any of the characters. He came in hot with stuff he didn't like about the film, and we called him out on often not loving the first picks he puts on a list. We did not veto it, but no one loved it.

17. The Gruesome Twosome (1967) I had position B (picks 17, 13, 11, 7 and 2; it came with 2 vetoes and one override but I had a carryover override.).  I picked this HG Lewis classic perhaps too low since Lewis is camp personified at times. I liked the mix of Nancy Drew and fun gore. We talked about considering a film in its time. For me, Lewis hits as hard as Terrifier because 60's audiences must have had some issues with this one.  We also talked about murder being a kink for some characters in gore and horror films; we all liked that.

16. Dead Heat (1988) Scott had position D (picks 16, 10, 8 and 2. He had 2 vetoes and 2 overrides plus a carry over override.). Scott picked this at 16 because he felt it was less well known than some of his other picks. And part of camp is being celebrated not undiscovered. We talked about Vincent Price. He comes up a lot in this game. We all agreed he is camp in and of itself. 

15. Hannibal (2001) V had position C (picks 15, 12, 5 and 4; C comes with 3 vetoes and one override, plus she had a bonus left over veto.).  it was vetoed by Nick to get higher but overridden by Scott. Mason, the opera scene and the brain scene were mentioned as part of its camp bonafides. V loves Silence of the Lambs but watches Hannibal when she feels like having a better time. Nick and I both wanted it higher. Nick reminisced about a Biology teacher who would show him the Hannibal films instead of teaching Biology some days because who wants to hear about homeostasis? Scott liked the film well enough, but he felt there are better choices out there.

14. Totally Killer (2023) Nick felt this had so many kick ass moments. He also liked the surprise killer reveal. The characters are campy and against type. Nick found it to be so much fun. Scott has the only one who watched it, but he preferred The Butterfly Effect. No veto was offered.

13. Orgy of the Dead (1965) I first chose Welcome to my Nightmare, the Alice Cooper concert film. It was vetoed. I forgot to mention Vincent Price had a narrator role in the thing. I just thought a slightly different genre would be fun. Scott did not agree and vetoed. I chose Edward D Wood. I meant to put Wood higher. He is also camp personified. But his script for Orgy of the Dead has Criswell. It has an Elvira stand-in, a wolf man and belly dancers. It is fun.  No vetoes were offered.

12. Bride of Chucky (1998) V played this. The other three of us wanted seed. But this was V's favorite and the first attempt at Chucky being fun. She liked the domestication of Chucky and dolls having sex. We all went with it. 

11. I Know Who Killed Me (2007) I love this film. I love the color palette. I love the amputation. I love the humorous immediacy to the crime plot. Lohan is campy and this is her best film. V did not care for the film and vetoed it. Scott loved it and overrode the veto.

10. Bride of Re-animator (1990) an homage to Bride of Frankenstein. Scott found Comb's more fun in the second movie and the graphics fantastic. Nick felt the bride and gf fight was the best scene in the movie. V had not seen it. I liked it a good deal.

09. Leprechaun 3 (1995) Nick has a thing for 1990's Las Vegas. He also enjoyed the plot, kills and humor of the piece. Everyone else was lukewarm on this but felt a Leprechaun film should be on the list.

08. Night of the Creeps (1986) Scott has always had a thing for Tom Atkins. He has met him. He loves him. He puts this as a top tier Atkins. I did not care for this but was not about to veto an Atkins. Everyone else loved this one so no veto offered.

07. Shock Treatment (1981) I figured this and Rocky Horror should be on the list. Had I known that Rocky Horror would not be coming up later, I might have just done it now. The songs here are very memorable. "Oh knife drawer, won't you help me with my life more?"  I did feel there was not enough horror, but I do not regret playing it. Nick did not like it much and also admitted he was not attached to the Rocky Horror franchise in general.

06. Army of Darkness (1992) Nick tried to play  House on Haunted Hill (1959). Scott vetoed it because he felt it should be higher.  He then tried to play Basket Case, which I felt should be higher so I vetoed that. And we ended up with Army of Darkness.  No doubt this is camp. I did not love this one. Everyone else did.  I am in love with Evil Dead. But I feel it has a place. Nick loved the slapstick and Evil Ash. 

05. Hausu (1977) Vanessa wanted a J horror film on here. She feels that it replicates an acid trip. She liked the naming of the characters. She liked the surreal imagery.  I am the only one who watched this one besides V. I cannot argue its camp and did not offer a veto.

04. Sleepaway Camp (1983) V felt this was a film that must be on the list. We all talked about the sweet character of Paul,  James Earl Jones' daddy and the iconic aunt and the gay couple at the heart of the film. We talked about Rose embracing her legacy at conventions. Nick found this better than the OG Friday the 13th!!  Nick then asked us if we were at camp in the 1980s. We aged five years with that question.

03. The Stuff (1985) Scott found this to be great satire. He  made comparisons to both The Blob films and They Live. He liked the jizz ice cream. V had not seen it. I had not seen it in years. Nick loved it but was worried about things being left off. He flipped a coin to decide if he should deploy a veto.  No vetoes offered.

02. Spider Baby (1967) This is one of my favorite horror films. I am so moved by Lon Chaney in this film. I also think the costumes and many of the scenes could be performed as drag, making it the perfect campy film. Nick thought it was too high and tried to veto. He was overridden by Scott. 

01. The House on Haunted Hill (1959)  Nick had hoped to play Sleepaway Camp 2. It was his number one from the start.  Nick loved the performances, the kills and the fact Angela is trans in this one. He was vetoed by V who felt it made no sense to have it placed above the original Camp. Nick then played The House on Haunted Hill, and I vetoed that because I was hoping Nick would play Basket Case. My veto was overridden. This is ultimately a fine number one.

Scott leaves the game without any extras. I left with an override as did Nick. V left with a veto. I feel this was a wide ranging list and a pretty good one. The next game involves all of the Hellraiser and all of the Exorcist films. It should really be something.