Monster Camp

Director: Cullen Hoback
Country: United States
Runtime: 81 Mins
Language: English
Year of Production: 2007

Monster Camp is a rare and fascinating glimpse into the world of live-action role playing where gamer stereotypes are simultaneously shattered and confirmed.

Monster Camp meticulously examines the lives of die-hard gamers at NERO Seattle, one of 50 franchises worldwide that abides by similar principles, rules and ideologies. At NERO, for 48 consecutive hours, participants immerse themselves in a world completely unlike our own. Software engineers, department store managers, and high school students by day, for one weekend each month these NERO players transform themselves into warriors, sorcerers, dwarves and lizard people.

The races, skills, and classes used in the game by our players are largely typical of the fantasy genre. Some spell names and effects, such as Cure Light Wounds and Magic Missile, are borrowed directly from Dungeons and Dragons. NERO is a place where people can be anything, dress any way, and have almost any power.

While the documentary highlights real people engaged in fantasy fun, it emphasizes the value of fantasy life action play as well as tries to humanize the computer-phile. In Monster Camp, NERO players inhabit a world of fantasy, chivalry and imagination, a world of their own creation, if only for one weekend a month.