Gothic Romance and 80s Slasher Films Shape Sets for Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

Production designers Brandon Tonner-Connolly and Matt Hyland created dreamlike sets for the horror film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, drawing on 1980s slasher movies and gothic romance. The film, directed by Jane Schoenbrun, stars Gillian Anderson as Billy, a cult horror star living at an abandoned summer camp, and Hannah Einbinder as filmmaker Kris, who is reviving the Camp Miasma franchise. Shot on location on Vancouver Island, Canada, the sets include a 'flesh palace' and a taxidermy-filled gas station. The designers used matte glass painting to create fantastical backgrounds, such as fairytale-like mountains. They also replicated specific props from classic horror films like Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm Street as Easter eggs. The Flesh Palace wall was created using concept art, 3D modeling, and a robot that carved foam. The designers aimed to create an immersive world for both actors and audiences, emphasizing small details. The film's title nods to lurid 1970s and 80s slasher titles. Hyland noted the goal was to 'take people on the best ride possible,' not just scare them. Tonner-Connolly described sourcing taxidermy as a 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre moment.' The film is set to be released on Mubi.