EDITOR’S NOTE: Cheerleader Camp was on USA Up All Night on February 28 and September 12, 1992; May 15, October 15, November 19 and December 10, 1993; May 7, December 9 and 30, 1994; January 4 and July 18, 1997.
You know, if I had my way, Betsy Russell would have been a much bigger star. I mean, she’s done well and is remembered — and got to be in the Saw movies and get a whole new audience — but she deserved better than a movie that forces us to watch Leif Garrett make sweet love to Playboy Playmate for April 1986 and adult star Teri Weigel. Nothing against Teri — she’s also in Predator 2, Marked for Death, Innocent Blood and was the first Playboy girl to go into adult, which cost her a lot in her personal and professional life.
Making this movie work even harder for me? The appearance of Cannon Films star — I mean, she was in Breakin’, Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo and Ninja 3: The Domination — Lucinda Dickey. Also — Taleena from the Gor movies — and June 1986 Playmate of the Month — Rebecca Ferratti, George “Buck” Flower and Tom Habeeb, who would one day host the show Cheaters.
Based on the death of Kirsten Costas — just like the original Tori Spelling Lifetime movie Death of a Cheerleader — this movie is a paper-thin slasher that came in seven years after its expiration date and led to a sequel that’s not a sequel, the Russell feature — and yes, Buck Flower shows up again — Camp Fear.
