EVERYTHING
According to Variety, director Avalon Fast has defined her latest cinematic offering, Camp, with a very specific and evocative premise: "A bunch of girls in the woods doing weird stuff." The film, which is currently playing in theaters via Dark Sky Films, leans into a dreamy aesthetic that blends supernatural elements with grounded themes of healing and community.
Artistic vision and personal expression
The narrative centers on Emily, portrayed by Zola Grimmer, who takes a job at a secluded camp designed for children dealing with various types of trauma. While there, she connects with four other counselors—played by Alice Wordsworth, Cherry Moore, Lea Rose Sebastianis, and Ella Reece—who begin to investigate their collective mystical reality. Fast describes the project as a culmination of ideas she has been developing for several years.
For Fast, the transition from making short films to feature-length projects marked a shift in her creative purpose. "The best way that I’m able to share myself and to feel understood is to put it in film," Fast noted regarding her process. This sentiment underscores the emotional weight of the production, which follows her 2022 debut Honeycomb and earned accolades at Fantastic Fest.
Cast chemistry and visual inspiration
The success of the film relies heavily on the organic bonds formed between the lead actresses during production. Fast noted that while some cast members were longtime acquaintances, others were hired only a month before filming began. Despite this varied timeline, the group functioned as a cohesive unit even during off-hours.
The visual language of the film was shaped by several key influences:
- The specific geography of the Alberta forest in Canada, which served as the primary shooting location.
- A shared history between Fast and cinematographer Eily Sprungman regarding their childhood environments.
- Direct references to Renaissance art, specifically notable imagery of Ophelia.
- High-end lighting setups used to create a surreal, ethereal atmosphere.
Future projects for the director
While Camp serves as a significant milestone in her career, Fast intends to diversify her upcoming slate. She plans to pivot toward male protagonists in her next project to challenge her previous focus on female-centric narratives. However, she also expressed an interest in completing one final girl-led horror cult movie to fully explore the questions raised by this current production. This balance of exploring new territory while rounding out existing themes suggests a deliberate evolution for her filmmaking career.