In the Mood for Something Sweet? Try Twisty Summer Camp Horror Marshmallow (2025)

Title: Marshmallow

First Non-Festival Release: April 11, 2025 (Limited Theatrical Release)

Director: Daniel DelPurgatorio

Writer: Andy Greskoviak

Runtime: 93 Minutes

Starring: Kue Lawrence, Sutton Johnston, Kai Cech

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

Summer camp is a place where kids can go to grow and develop into more mature, independent adults. The independence that comes with camp can be encouraging for young kids hoping to build confidence, make friends, and have fun, especially if things are tough at home or school. What happens when this safe space becomes unsafe?

Morgan (Kue Lawrence) is sent to summer camp following an incident involving his grandfather. Upon his arrival, Morgan is shy, especially when camp bully CJ (Sutton Johnston) takes notice of him. Not everyone is bad, he soon befriends Pilar (Kai Cech), a kind camper who meshes well with Morgan’s quirks. Things are largely fine other than Morgan’s confusing nightmares focused on drowning. The stakes escalate further when the kids realize that the scary story the counselors told by the fire about a murderous doctor may be true.

An unconventional slasher, Marshmallow switches up the formula for something special and sweet.

Starting like many a camp slasher, Marshmallow takes time to introduce its characters and develop their relationships before the terror unfolds. Campfires, swim tests, and summer flings personify the American summer camp experience. Marshmallow easily incorporates these tenets of young adult life seamlessly within its unexpected take on summer fun. By developing its young characters early before the carnage even begins, Marshmallow avoids the pitfalls of other slashers that are content to slice-and-dice their way through their casts without consideration for characters or dynamics.

Character-driven, the youngsters of Marshmallow make for interesting protagonists despite their lack of adult drama. Morgan’s trauma makes for easy sympathy but speaks to something more profound. Shuffled away to camp after suffering a terrible tragedy, bullied thanks to his meek demeanor, and lost without the guidance of his family, Morgan is an easy target. Thankfully, he meets Pilar, who shows him friendship in a place that initially felt hostile to him. A surface level metaphor for bullying transforms into something sweeter when the twists come into play, demonstrating the need for kindness and understanding in the face of the unknown. It’s the bonds that these kids make and the ways they discuss challenges that makes this slice of gateway horror so warm and inviting. Marshmallow ensures the horror doesn’t get lost amongst the compelling young adult worries and fears.

The horror of Marshmallow is light, but it still packs a punch when needed. Relying more on grounded ways a camper can find themselves in danger in the first half, Marshmallow quickly switches up once it realizes its campfire legend. The terror is predicated less on gory kills or even its masked menacer but rather the haunting visuals of children running scared in the dark from danger. Thanks to the great child actors, the fear looks real, which makes it easier for that to translate to audiences.

Typically a pressure point for these kind of films, the child actors of Marshmallow are more than capable of holding their own against the adults. Kue Lawrence and Kai Cech anchor Marshmallow with the sweet friendship that develops between Morgan and Pilar. Taking cues from similar coming-of-age films, Morgan’s relationship with Pilar allows him to come into his own despite the debilitating trauma and bullying that threatens to pull him underwater at any given time. These young performers, along with much of the cast give their all, and it pays in dividends. The nighttime terror of the campers wouldn’t be half as affecting if it weren’t for their bold performances.

While not the most visceral, this interesting little indie film raises plenty of fascinating questions about autonomy and science while still firmly being a gateway horror film. Strong child actors and a truly unique spin on the summer camp slasher setup makes Marshmallow worthwhile. When major studios are constantly trying to unearth reliable IP to cynically reboot, ambitious swings like Daniel DelPurgatorio’s feature debut make it easy to have hope for the future of the genre. Marshmallow is truly a treat worth toasting. 

Overall Score? 6/10