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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Camping Out remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have ten minutes and want to see 1934 animation at its most chaotic, sure. It’s perfect for people who like old-school shorts where everything goes wrong immediately. If you need a deep plot or high-stakes drama, look elsewhere. This isn't exactly high art. It's just a bunch of bugs being jerks. 🦟
Honestly, watching Mickey and the gang try to set up camp is stressful. They’re just trying to enjoy the wilderness, but the mosquitoes show up like they’re invading a small country. It’s not a subtle metaphor. It’s just bugs everywhere.
The animation style has that twitchy, jittery energy that makes you wonder how the artists didn't go crazy. There’s a specific moment where the swarm forms a shape, and it looks less like a cartoon and more like a fever dream. I swear I had to rewind it twice just to see if I was seeing things right.
It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Speed Crazed, where things move so fast you lose track of who’s hitting who. The sound design is just buzzing. Constant, high-pitched buzzing. It’s almost annoying enough to make you reach for the bug spray yourself. Almost.
There isn't a lot to say about the character development here because there isn't any. It's just a slapstick brawl. Sometimes that’s enough. It’s definitely more fun than sitting through a bloated modern feature.
It’s a weird little relic. You can tell they were just having fun with the concept of a miserable vacation. It’s not trying to change the world. It’s just trying to make you itch a little bit.
Maybe don't watch this right before you go on an actual camping trip. You’ll be checking the corners of your bedroom for hours. Seriously.