Jane Schoenbrun's Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is already earning raves for its casting, and it's easy to see why. The film pairs Hannah Einbinder (from Hacks) with Gillian Anderson in a story that flips the slasher genre on its head. Einbinder plays Kris, a rising filmmaker hired to breathe new life into a long-dormant horror franchise. Anderson steps in as Billy, the enigmatic star of the original Camp Miasma films who has since vanished from the public eye, living in seclusion at the very summer camp where the movies were shot. When Kris tracks her down, the two forge an intoxicating bond—part emotional, part sexual—that Schoenbrun weaves into a narrative both playful and deeply reverent of the genre.
During a recent Collider Ladies Night interview, Anderson and Einbinder delved into their experience making the film, reflected on career milestones, and played a round of the show's signature game, Dicey Questions. The game took an unexpected turn when Einbinder was asked to fan-cast Anderson in a franchise of her choosing. Her answer? A bold one: The Sopranos.
“I would love to see Gillian cast as Tony Soprano,” Einbinder said. “I would love The Sopranos to be remade with Gillian as the Don, the boss.” Anderson laughed at the suggestion, replying, “That’s so good.” While the idea of remaking an HBO classic like The Sopranos is sure to spark debate, Einbinder might be onto something. Anderson is a two-time Emmy winner with a proven track record of embodying complex, commanding characters. It’s not hard to imagine her bringing a fresh, formidable energy to the role of a mob boss.
Before that dream casting becomes a reality, audiences can catch Anderson in Camp Miasma, where she delivers a performance that channels the spirit of Norma Desmond—a faded star with an air of mystery and menace. The film is now playing in select theaters, and it’s a must-see for fans of Anderson’s range.
A Perfect Pairing
The success of Camp Miasma hinges on the chemistry between Anderson and Einbinder, and from their very first rehearsal, it was clear they had something special. Einbinder recalled the moment they first ran lines together: “We did a rehearsal of the largest scene where the two characters meet, and just from the second we started, Gillian had the force and the magnetism and the mystique and the gentleness, and every layer in Billy that I think was moving and disarming and intimidating, and totally made Kris so enamored with her. That performance affected mine, and I was like, ‘Oh, wow. This is alive.’”
Anderson echoed that sentiment, noting how quickly Einbinder embodied Kris. “That’s so interesting because I think my reaction, when we started doing the scene together, because of how locked in you were from the beginning and how you were already so quintessentially Kris, I thought, ‘Oh, fuck. Here we go!’” she said with a laugh. “You brought so much to that first reading, but also so much vulnerability that I hadn't necessarily read into the kind of quirky, nerdy, awkward aspects of the character, and I was blown away.”
That mutual admiration translates beautifully on screen. Anderson’s Billy is a beguiling mix of mystique and tenderness, while Einbinder’s Kris is vulnerable yet determined. Together, they create a dynamic that feels both electric and intimate, a pairing that allows each character to see the other in ways no one else can. It’s a testament to Schoenbrun’s casting instincts and the actors’ undeniable rapport.
For more from Anderson and Einbinder on Camp Miasma, including their full Collider Ladies Night interview, be sure to check out the video at the top of this article. And if you’re curious about the design of the film’s slasher villain, Little Death (played by Jack Haven), Schoenbrun has shared insights that are well worth a read. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is now in theaters.
