Felissa Rose
Welcome back to Horror Celebrity Spotlight, a series about the most interesting icons in the horror world! This week, we’re taking a look at vintage slasher movie favorite, Felissa Rose! Let’s take a look at her iconic career, the memorable roles she’s played, and all the Felissa Rose movies you need to watch!
Previous Spotlights
The Basics
Full Name: Felissa Rose Esposito
Age: 55
Best Known For: Sleepaway Camp and Hatchet
Website: felissarose.com. Rose also has an official Instagram account.
An Unforgettable Debut Sparked A Prolific Career
Felissa Rose has had an unusual career. She is both an overnight success and a late bloomer.
Rose made her debut in the classic slasher flick Sleepaway Camp (1983). Casting a 13 year old girl with no acting experience (she had never even auditioned for a role before) as the movie’s protagonist (and *spoiler alert* killer) seems like madness on part of the filmmakers.
Except that it worked! Rose’s offbeat and strangely captivating performance as Angela Baker, a timid camper hiding a shocking secret, set her on the path to horror icon status.
Sleepaway Camp performed well, but was not a massive hit like Friday the 13th. Despite the movie’s success, it was a decade before Rose appeared in another film. The teen (and/or her parents) decided it was more important to focus on her school studies.
After a couple of minor roles in the ’90s, Rose’s career exploded in the early 21st century. By this time, Sleepaway Camp was well on its way to become a cult favorite, as part of a broader renaissance of ’80s horror popularity that continues to this day.
A new generation discovered her notorious debut role. Rose began attending horror conventions. She earned a reputation for friendliness and enthusiasm when interacting with fans.
Anyway, let’s go back to the franchise she’s most associated with. Rose declined to return in Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers (1988) because she was busy with college. Pamela (sister of Bruce) Springsteen replaced her. It’s interesting to wonder how the sequel would have been different with Rose as Angela.
Sleepaway Camp 2 is a campy cheese fest. It’s fun, but it’s certainly not a serious horror film. If Rose had returned, they could have made a creepier sequel with a tone similar to the first movie. I would have loved to see that.
She did finally reprise her role in the direct to DVD sequel, Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008). Unfortunately, it was unable to recapture the magic of the original. Who knows how the franchise would have evolved if Rose had starred in more installments in the ’80s. Would it have become a major franchise and a true rival to Friday the 13th for the summer camp slasher crown?
Felissa appeared in Victor Crowley (2017), the fourth installment of the Hatchet franchise. She won acclaim for her hysterical performance as a wild-eyed, drugged up publicist who suffers a grotesque demise at the hands of Crowley (played by her buddy Kane Hodder). Other than Angela, this is her best role in my view.
She’s appeared in dozens of other horror films. Other Felissa Rose movies include Satan’s Playground, Poe, and The Forest Hills.
Random Tidbits
-Rose attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
-She has a cameo appearance as a teacher in Terrifier 2.
-Like Tony Todd, Felissa has a strong reputation for being friendly and kind to fans. I haven’t met her, but everything that I’ve read and heard is that she is approachable and fun.
-Rose is friends with John Bloom, who is better known by his stage persona, the iconic horror show host Joe Bob Briggs. She’s makes semi-regular appearances on his Shudder program, The Last Drive-In.
-She cohosts the podcast Casualty Friday with Kane Hodder and Tiffany Shepis.
A Wise Scream Queen
Felissa is known for her upbeat attitude toward life. Gratitude, love, and positivity are recurring themes on her Instagram page.
An interviewer asked about her passion for attending horror conventions. Rose described how much she enjoys connecting with fans and other performers. “That’s one of the most important things we have on this planet, these relationships. It’s not about stuff. We’re not taking anything away other than remembering how someone made you feel or the interactions you had with someone. To me, that’s the greatest joy!”
What a healthy perspective for any human being to have! We could all learn a thing or two from this lady.
Rose’s career is still thriving. She is working on several projects, including The Last Sleepover, an upcoming slasher movie about a 20 year high school reunion that turns deadly. There are sure to be plenty more Felissa Rose movies to come!
