The Central Valley film “Camp Terror” has been released to streaming platforms. It can be seen on Amazon, Amazon Canada, Vimeo, Indemand, and Comcast. More platforms will be available in the future.

For those involved in the film, this moment is a big deal as it was years in the making to get to this point. It was a labor of love for those who made the movie having gone through setbacks and the pandemic.

The story of the film hits familiar beats from traditional classic slasher films where there’s a killer, an urban legend, a campground, young people participating in substances and escapades, and they must escape the threat of danger.

The horror movie was filmed here — it includes local landmarks such as Hobb’s Grove — and made by Valley filmmakers.

The Making of “Camp Terror”

The film was written and directed by Sam Winters. Rease Etzler portrayed the character of Sheriff Katie Becks and served as an associate producer. She has fond memories of what took place behind the scenes.

“When we started filming it was on weekends only for a long time and then COVID hit and it halted things for a bit. We finally picked back up and still weekends only. It took us about three years to film it,” said Etzler. “Once filming wrapped, I moved into a producer role helping facilitate ADR sessions, contracts, a red-carpet premiere, film festivals and finally distribution.”

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For leading lady Madison Smart, who portrayed Ashley, this was her first time playing the main character in a feature.

“Playing the lead role in Camp Terror was an incredible experience. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the process.” said Smart. “While I couldn’t personally relate to my character, Ashley, except for the strong fighter she became, I cherished the opportunity to embody someone so different from myself.”

Challenges and Rewards of Filming

The movie was made independently. No big-name Hollywood people were involved with it, in front or behind the camera. Everything was done on the fly, figuring things out along the way, and being resourceful in the toughest of times. That type of environment proved beneficial to the camaraderie of the cast and crew.

“This movie did not feature high-profile individuals, me included. However, something does not need high-profile names to be excellent. What it requires is passion. Passion is what truly makes a project exceptional, and this production had it in abundance. I loved being a part of it for this very reason,” said Smart.

Since they first filmed the teaser trailer back in 2018, they encountered many challenges along the way with weather conditions, limited budget, script changes, and the pandemic. Sometimes it’s the things that happen on the inside that causes the biggest challenges.

“The entire movie was filmed with no sound, so we have to go back in and do ADR for the whole thing. Every word, every scream, every breath, sound FX etc. That took a couple of months. Then editing. It was definitely the most time-consuming project I have ever done,” said Etzler.

Personal Impact from the Production

Nothing can beat the feeling of being a part of a production. The relationships you forge and the experiences you have along the way. For Smart, her time behind the scenes was a catharsis.

“The production of the movie had a significant personal impact on me, as I was dealing with a tumor during the filming process,” she said. “After filming concluded, I underwent a craniotomy to remove it. Between scenes, particularly those involving stunts, I frequently experienced nausea and dizziness. Despite these challenges and more that developed over time, the overall filming experience was immensely rewarding, and the film provided substantial professional benefits.”

And you can catch some recognizable faces and names in the film. Local on-air personality, Rebecah Rye aka Bec from “Bec On The Night Shift” on the radio station Rock 105.1 portrayed Ranger Jesse Harper. “Camp Terror” also included scream queens Felissa Rose and Brinke Stevens. Rose is known for her memorable appearance in the slasher classic “Sleepaway Camp” and Stevens is a horror legend with films like “The Slumber Party Massacre.”

Recognition and Future of Central Valley Film

When the film was finally in the can, they held a red-carpet premiere at the new Regal Fresno theater on Nov. 12, 2021, with the cast and crew were all in attendance.

In 2022, it swept the Independent Horror Movie Awards winning in categories like Best Feature, Director, Editing, Score, Special Effects, and others.

With the film being shown on several streaming services it demonstrates that the Central Valley film scene is ready for the spotlight.

“It is essential for the world to recognize that the Fresno film community is formidable in its capabilities and offers substantial contributions to the film industry, and it’s driven by a tremendous amount of talent,” said Smart.

 Check Out The Trailer