Jane Schoenbrun’s Sex and Death at Camp Miasma draws on the traditions and storytelling codes of classic slasher cinema. A new GQ feature examines the movies that helped shape the film’s distinctive edge.
Among the inspirations discussed are entries from the Friday the 13th series, whose sequels form part of the slasher history Schoenbrun studied. The feature also points to two films centered on Norman Bates, connecting the new project to another major thread in horror filmmaking.
The discussion presents horror fandom as a form of scholarship, built on familiarity with the rules, lore and recurring patterns that define the genre. Schoenbrun’s knowledge of those conventions informs the creative approach behind Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
Together, the six cited films offer a look at the references and genre language surrounding Schoenbrun’s new movie.
