Horror movie DEER CAMP ’86 stars Tampa Bay’s Paul Wilson, and was partly filmed in St. Pete

It’s time for summer slashers, and one passion project, DEER CAMP ’86, made major waves in the genre. While the film was shot predominantly in Michigan, the indie project also came to St. Petersburg to film several scenes with the area’s own Paul Wilson. DEER CAMP ‘86 is available to rent or buy across all major digital platforms. It is also available on DVD and Blu-ray via Amazon and Walmart. See the full trailer here.

The film takes place in the fall of 1986 and centers on six friends from Detroit who travel north for their annual deer hunting trip. But the interlopers awaken something terrifying, and “the hunters become the hunted.”  The cast includes Noah LaLonde, Jay J. Bidwell, Arthur Cartwright, Brian Michael Raetz, Josh Dominguez, David Lautman, Tina Joy, in addition to Paul Wilson.

Dedicated crew puts together a lauded film on a small budget

“Our film, even with its indie marketing budget, stood up to the major studios, selling out many times in Tampa and Michigan and even Alaska,” said producer and film financier Antonio Morris. “With an 82% Rotten Tomatoes score, I have no doubt that we will do very well on streaming. People love this movie, and I can tell you I’ve already greenlit the sequel regardless of the outcome. That’s how much I believe in this film, the cast, and all the love and energy that went into making this modern-day classic.”

In an article by Paul Guzzo for the Tampa Bay Times, it’s reported that the film crew utilized a church at 2750 Fifth Ave. N. in St. Pete for the production. They transformed a Sunday school classroom into a police station for Paul Wilson’s final scenes.

Film sheds light on a silent epidemic

A major theme of the film is the horrific frequency of Indigenous women and girls who go missing each year. The film shines a light on this silent epidemic that has only recently begun garnering attention outside of native communities. The film took careful measures to ensure sensitivity and authenticity when portraying the Potawatomi Nation, including having members of the Ottawa (Little River Band) and Gunn Lake Tribe of the Potawatomi on set every day to ensure filmmakers properly represented the culture and the tribe.

“This film has already developed a bit of a cult following in the wake of its festival premieres and theatrical run. It’s exciting to help bring this new cult classic into homes,” said Panoramic Pictures CEO Michael Scott. “We’ve seen the demand from horror enthusiasts for more films like ‘DEER CAMP ’86,’ and we couldn’t be happier that fans will have this excellent title as an option to enjoy.”

The film currently has a fresh 82% review rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 84% on Fandango.

Now available on DVD and Blu-ray

The Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD release follows a month-long theatrical run that reached 133 theaters in 64 markets across 30 states. Preceding the theatrical release, “DEER CAMP ‘86” premiered at Screamfest, the 2024 Gasparilla International Film Festival, and the 2024 Dallas International Film Festival to enthusiastic reviews. Theatrical distribution was coordinated by FilmFrog.

For more information on “DEER CAMP ‘86,” visit DeerCamp86.com or follow @deercampmovie on Instagram.