Hell of a Summer
2025 · Directed by Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk
Original language: English
- horror
- comedy
- mystery
The story
When 24-year-old Jason Hochberg arrives for counsellor weekend at his beloved Camp Pineway, his biggest problem is feeling out of touch with his teenage co-workers. Little does he know; a masked killer has murdered camp owners John and Kathy and is preparing to strike again.
What it’s like
Hell of a Summer leans into bright, sun-faded summer-camp daylight that slides into murky woodland dusk, with lakeside greens, weathered cabin wood and a campfire glow doing most of the visual work. The camera stays fairly straightforward, with plenty of wide shots of the grounds and quick cuts during the kills, and the grain-free digital look keeps everything crisp and a little cheap-feeling in the best slasher way. Sound is pop-punk-leaning needle drops, cicadas and crackling fires, with the score tipping into synth stabs when the masked killer is near. The vibe is goofy, self-aware horror: affectionate nostalgia for camp-slasher movies, undercut by constant jokes and awkward banter. It suits a Friday night with friends, a rowdy group watch, or a late-summer evening when you want scares that don't take themselves seriously. Pacing is brisk and the emotional register stays light, following a lonely adult slowly reconnecting with the younger staff he feels out of step with. The violence is frequent and cartoonishly bloody, with gore played for laughs more than dread, and some crude sexual humour and profanity throughout. Best for horror fans who want comedy and a whodunit without grim seriousness.
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