Horror filmmakers love to subvert expectations, and Jane Schoenbrun is no exception. After making waves with We're All Going to the World's Fair and the critically acclaimed I Saw the TV Glow, Schoenbrun is back with a new project that promises to turn the slasher genre on its head. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is not your typical camp massacre—it's a queer, irreverent, and surprisingly sexy take on the classic formula, and it's already generating buzz as one of 2026's most anticipated horror films.
The film stars Hannah Einbinder as Kris, a young filmmaker tasked with rebooting a beloved slasher franchise that has fallen on hard times. To research the project, Kris seeks out the original film's 'final girl,' Billy, played by Gillian Anderson. Billy is a reclusive actress living on the very campsite where the movies were shot. What starts as a professional meeting quickly spirals into a passionate and delirious connection, leading Kris down a path of self-discovery that is both liberating and blood-soaked.
Schoenbrun, who has become known for their deeply personal and genre-bending work, describes the film as a love letter to '80s horror classics like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp, but with a distinctly modern and queer perspective. The director recently sat down with Collider to discuss the challenges of getting the film made, the collaborative process, and the surprising design of the film's killer, Little Death.
Fighting for Queer Stories in Hollywood
Getting Camp Miasma off the ground was no easy feat. Schoenbrun admitted that despite the film's commercial appeal—it's "funny, sexy, and a good time at the movies"—it was still a hard sell. "It's not getting easier," they said. "It's getting harder for queer people to make honest stories about our lives, especially if those stories aren't trauma porn." The director emphasized that their goal is to tell stories from a place of queer liberation, not suffering, which is a perspective Hollywood rarely funds.
Fortunately, MUBI stepped in to support the project, giving Schoenbrun the creative freedom they needed. The director expressed gratitude for the partnership, noting that MUBI truly understood the vision and helped bring it to life.
Collaboration and the Birth of Little Death
Schoenbrun credits much of the film's magic to the collaborative spirit on set. One standout moment was the opening credits sequence, which features a treasure trove of memorabilia from the fictional Camp Miasma franchise. Schoenbrun hosted a pop-up writers' room with close collaborators to brainstorm fake taglines and details for each sequel, making the scene a feast for horror fans.
The design of Little Death, the film's killer, was also a collaborative effort. While Schoenbrun didn't reveal specifics, they hinted that the character is unlike anything seen before in the genre. The director also mentioned a scene that was cut from the final film, which they were "bummed" about, but they remain proud of the finished product.
With a stellar cast including Zach Cherry, Dylan Baker, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Patrick Fischler, and Jack Haven (reuniting with Schoenbrun after I Saw the TV Glow), Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is shaping up to be a must-see for horror enthusiasts and anyone craving bold, original storytelling. As Schoenbrun continues to push boundaries, they're proving that the slasher genre still has plenty of surprises left.
For more on the film, including the full interview with Schoenbrun, check out the video above. And if you're hungry for more genre-bending scares, don't miss our list of sci-fi horror's boldest gambles or revisit the most unforgettable horror endings of the 2020s.
