So I was also a participant in this documentary when it was shot, and I've played at a few different chapters across the country.

Actually, when I saw the film I was surprised at how even-handed it actually was. There's a lot of drama queens that LARP, and there's no way any film made about a NERO chapter would have appealed to all of them. I mean, there's so much drama in the NERO universe that there's controversy over who started NERO in the first place.

Some of my family members have watched this movie and now finally have a grasp on what it is I actually do with some of my weekends. More importantly, they came away from the film with a greater sense of understanding.

Another NERO member said that the lizard guys in the photo quit shortly after shooting, which is true. To that point, oddball types float in and out of the game all of the time, and they usually play the monsters who don't know the rules well. The film covered the die-hards and the more pathetic participants (even though they really do get a chance to speak for themselves).

NERO is a community. It attracts all types. Sure the film doesn't follow the in-game plot; but come on fellow Larpers, that stuff is only interesting to us. This film seems to have been crafted to appeal to people besides just us. It focuses on real drama that comes with trying to make our fantasy work! That's probably why it was more than just another you tube video showing people hitting each other with padded weapons.

Of the characters profiled in the film, I knew about 40% of them. While they are more complex than the film reveals, I didn't think that they were misrepresented. I thought it did a better job at providing an even-handed perspective for them than King of Kong did for Billy Mitchell. Additionally, those I have talked to who were in the film by and large were satisfied with how they were portrayed.

I'm glad I was documented in this project. If nothing else, I'd say watch it and see for yourself.

Monster Camp is the most entertaining documentary I have ever seen. It is the true story of those who have decided to abandon what society deems a "normal life" in exchange for the opportunity to exist in a fantastical world created solely for their pleasure.

While this may appear to be something that a film maker could easily choose to mock or ridicule. It is not so with Monster Camp. The director has done a fantastic job at being even handed with his portrayal of this unique individuals. Although the comical side of this alternate reality is every present, it is hardly judgemental. Judgement, it would seem is left to the viewer. As is the case with any good documentary.

It was also surprising to see such raw emotions presented so clearly in a world such a live action role playing. The many characters all feel incredibly strong connections to the lives they have created for themselves, and their love of the game is evident. In fact, their love borders on obsession. Still, the film lets you decide if this is a bad thing.

It is a well made film all around and is highly enjoyable.

This was a fun documentary that shows a group of people playing a live action role playing experience (LARP for short). It is like Dungeons and Dragons acted out with real people playing each characters. Some people are the adventurers trying to get through the story, and some people play the monsters they have to fight and kill to move forward. It's called Monster Camp because that is like the base of operations where the people who are putting it on work out of. The owner of the camp comes across as being very stressed by the responsibilities of running the game, and actually ends up selling the company (NERO). Apparently, it is a lot of work coordinating everything for the three or four days that the customers stay to play. It was hard to understand exactly how the game works, or what the story is behind it (I never was sure what the players were trying to accomplish),but they do explain that characters get killed in battle when they get hit by weapons a certain number of times. Whenever one player hits another with their foam weapon, they call out a number, which is the amount of damage they can do. When a player gets hit enough times to equal the number set on their character, they die, although they can be resurrected back into the game. The movie lets you get to know a little bit about some of the players and some of the people putting the camp on. It was an interesting look into an experience I would probably never otherwise have seen. It would be interesting to see a follow up documentary on the camp. I would even watch another movie about a different group, in hopes that it would be as well made and interesting as this one.