For many LGBTQ people, summer camp was a strange mix of freedom, self-discovery, friendship, and awkward first crushes.
Now a new indie horror film is taking those memories and transforming them into something much darker.
Camp, the latest feature from trans filmmaker Avalon Fast, is arriving just in time for summer and already has horror fans talking thanks to its surreal visuals, queer themes, and witchy atmosphere.
A Queer Coming-of-Age Story Wrapped in Horror
According to early descriptions, the film follows Emily, a young woman haunted by tragic events from her past who accepts a counseling job at a remote summer camp for troubled youth. What initially appears to be a Christian retreat quickly reveals something far stranger lurking beneath the surface.
Instead of wholesome campfire activities, Emily discovers:
- secret rituals
- séances
- forbidden relationships
- mysterious supernatural forces
- counselors hiding dangerous secrets
And things only get weirder from there.
The Film Draws Comparisons to Cult Favorites
Early coverage has described Camp as a blend of:
- The Virgin Suicides
- The Craft
- coming-of-age drama
- supernatural horror
- queer self-discovery
The result appears to be less of a traditional slasher and more of a dreamlike psychological horror experience focused on identity, trauma, and belonging.
Summer Camp Has Always Held a Special Place in Queer Storytelling
Part of what makes the premise resonate is that summer camps often occupy a unique space within LGBTQ storytelling.
For many queer people, camp represented:
- independence from family expectations
- first experiences with chosen family
- opportunities for self-expression
- early romantic awakenings
- personal transformation
That emotional backdrop naturally lends itself to stories about identity and self-discovery.
Avalon Fast Is Emerging as a Rising Voice in Queer Horror
At just 26 years old, Avalon Fast is already attracting significant attention within independent genre filmmaking.
Camp reportedly marks her third feature film and draws inspiration from her own experiences attending sleepaway camps while growing up. Fast has described the film as exploring different ways people respond to trauma—whether through healthy healing or by pursuing whatever provides immediate escape.
That emotional foundation gives the horror elements added weight.
Critics Are Already Paying Attention
The film’s festival run has generated considerable momentum.
According to reports, Camp won Best Feature in the Next Wave competition at Fantastic Fest and also earned recognition for screenplay and cinematography at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival.
Those accolades have helped position it as one of the most anticipated queer horror releases of the summer.
Queer Horror Is Having a Major Moment
The release also arrives during a period of growing interest in LGBTQ horror storytelling.
Recent years have seen audiences embrace films that use horror to explore:
- identity
- repression
- desire
- belonging
- social exclusion
Rather than treating queer characters as side characters or victims, many modern genre films place LGBTQ experiences directly at the center of the story.
That shift has helped create an entirely new wave of queer horror cinema.
The Visuals Look Absolutely Unhinged
Perhaps the biggest reason horror fans are excited is the trailer itself.
Early footage showcases:
- eerie forests
- occult imagery
- dreamlike cinematography
- supernatural rituals
- unsettling campgrounds
- haunting voiceovers
The atmosphere feels less focused on jump scares and more interested in creating an overwhelming sense of unease.
Why Horror and Queer Stories Work So Well Together
There has always been a natural connection between horror and queer storytelling.
Both genres often explore:
- outsiders
- transformation
- hidden identities
- social fear
- survival
- self-acceptance
Films like Camp continue that tradition while bringing new perspectives and voices into the genre.
One of Summer’s Most Interesting LGBTQ Releases
Whether audiences come for the horror, the queer themes, or the surreal visuals, Camp appears poised to become one of the standout indie genre releases of 2026.
It’s strange.
It’s unsettling.
It’s deeply queer.
And based on the early reaction, that’s exactly what many viewers are looking for.