Panic Fest 25' Marshmallow Delivers Camp Horror Nostalgia with Heart, Humor, and Surreal Grief - Review

Kue Lawrence leads a chaotic, heartfelt summer camp horror adventure packed with grief, weirdness, and genre-bending thrills.

When you’ve seen enough genre films, you start to notice the patterns. The formula, as I like to say, never dies. A group of kids. Some chaos. A hint of the supernatural or a lurking evil. Toss in some cursing, some grief, a campfire or two—and you’ve got yourself a classic setup that somehow always finds new life. Marshmallow, from director Daniel DelPurgatorio and writer Andy Greskoviak, is one of those rare films that doesn’t just play the hits. It remixes them, bends them, and throws them into a fever dream that’s full of heart, humor, and a whole lot of weirdness.

This is a coming-of-age horror adventure that throws back to the glory days of Sleepaway Camp, E.T., Cabin in the Woods, Meatballs, and even Up the Academy. But make no mistake—it’s also built for right now. With its roots deep in camp-set genre tradition and its head in the clouds of emotional depth and psychological horror, Marshmallow delivers big for anyone who came up in the late ’70s to early ’90s… and for every weird kid growing up right now.

The story follows Morgan (played with soul and sharp timing by Kue Lawrence), a young boy reluctantly shipped off to summer camp following the death of his beloved grandfather (played by the always-solid Corbin Bernsen). Morgan’s internal world begins to unravel in surreal dream spirals filled with watery imagery, generational grief, and unresolved trauma. What starts as a classic “kid at camp” setup quickly fractures into something else entirely—a psychological mystery, a camp slasher, and a metaphysical odyssey all wrapped into one.

This is a genre blender done right. Marshmallow moves confidently between absurd comedy, kid-centric coming-of-age drama, supernatural horror, and something close to sci-fi surrealism. And somehow, it all works. That’s thanks in large part to the cast: Kai Cech (as Pilar), Max Malas (as Dirk), and a crew of young actors who bring authenticity, weirdness, and real emotion to their roles. These aren’t polished Disney kids—they’re awkward, funny, chaotic, and painfully real. There’s even a show-stealing turn from Dylan, one of the producers’ sons, who lit up the Q&A at Fantastic Fest and shows up here like a seasoned vet.

And let’s not forget the adults: Paul Soter (Super Troopers) slides in as a camp director, and while the older cast isn’t asked to do much heavy lifting, they all hit their marks and support the tone perfectly.

But what really makes Marshmallow pop is its willingness to go there. To let kids grieve, mess up, rebel, and fight back. To treat young characters with the complexity they deserve. The film isn’t afraid of its own imagination—or its darkness. It knows that being a kid isn’t all bike rides and bonfires. It’s confusion, loss, hormones, and hope. It’s feeling things before you have the words for them.

In a time when so much horror feels stuck in the adult trauma cycle, it’s refreshing to see a film give young people the spotlight without watering them down. And yeah, there’s some disturbing behavior energy in here too—because kids aren’t always sweet. Sometimes they’re little monsters. And Marshmallow isn’t afraid to show that either.

This isn’t just a film I want my 16-year-old to watch. It’s a film I wish I had at 13. For the genre heads, the VHS kids, the campers, the weirdos, and the loners—Marshmallow is one of the most imaginative, emotionally charged, and straight-up fun horror films you’ll see all year.

Don’t sleep on this one.

4.5/5

Director: Daniel DelPurgatorio

Screenwriter: Andy Greskoviak

Producer: Warner Davis, Todd M. Friedman

Executive Producer: Steven Gallion

Co-Producer: Elliott Barker

Cast: Kue Lawrence, Kai Cech, Giorgia Whigham