MONSTER CAMP

Monster Camp may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is an insightful look at a world that is utterly foreign to many of us.

If you've ever wondered what it means when a grown person tells you they've been up all night "role playing", Monster Camp will give you a pretty clear picture of what they're talking about. This quirky documentary delves into the world of Live Action Role Playing or LARPing, and gives us all a glimpse into this mysterious world. And if you're already a LARPer? You'll undoubtedly enjoy this portrait of kindred spirits. Shoot, if you're from Seattle, you might even see someone you know.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that role playing has always struck me as kind of freaky, so Monster Camp wasn't exactly up my alley. However, it does a great job of humanizing the players and allowing us to see what makes them tick. For the most part the LARPers seem to be bookish types or gamers who lead ordinary lives as store clerks, students, and computer wizards. Role playing provides an escape from real life, and allows its participants the opportunity to interact with one another. Some of the players are of the quiet, "nerdy" variety, who confess to having no friends before they got involved. Strange as it is to see grown men and women sword-fighting in full costume, LARPing is actually an important social outlet for many people. It is their niche, and the thought of life without it is enough to bring them to tears.

That's not to say that people don't get carried away. The documentary also chronicles the sale of the Seattle chapter of NERO (a LARPing franchise). With palpable emotion, the former owner explains how his involvement in NERO became a replacement for real life. "Now," he says in a wavery voice, "I just have to figure out what to do with my life." It's easy to see how fantasy becomes reality for these people, and the new owner vows to implement standards to keep that line from getting too blurry. Yes, even in fantasy you've got to have rules.

Monster Camp may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is an insightful look at a world that is utterly foreign to many of us. The film never condescends to its subjects, nor does it romanticize them. It simply shows that LARPers are people too.

DVD NOTES

Extra features include director's commentary, two film shorts in the same vein as the film, and the trailer for Freedom State.