Hell of a Summer

Hell of a Summer is a 2023 comedy-horror film written and directed by Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk (in his directorial debut). It stars Fred Hechinger, Abby Quinn, Bryk, Wolfhard, Pardis Saremi and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.

Hell of a Summer
Directed by
Written by
  • Finn Wolfhard
  • Billy Bryk
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyKristofer Bonnell
Edited by
Music byJay McCarrol
Production
companies
Release date
  • September 10, 2023 (2023-09-10) (TIFF)
Running time
88 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Canada
  • United States[1]
LanguageEnglish

It premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2023.

Premise

As the counselors are getting Camp Pineway ready the night before the campers arrive, a masked killer begins killing the staff.[1]

Cast

Production

Hell of a Summer was announced in July 2022 with Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk writing, directing and starring in the film, making it Bryk's directorial debut. Fred Hechinger joined the cast and also produces with Aggregate Films' Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan, and Parts and Labor's Jay Van Hoy.[3][4] Wolfhard (who was 20 years old at the time) told Entertainment Weekly that he initially struggled to find a financer for the film, with potential investors often citing his age as the reason.[5] Inspiration for the film came from Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead (2004).[6]

Principal photography began in July 2022 in Ontario, Canada and wrapped that August.[3][7] By December, the film was in the editing process and in post-production by February 2023.[8][4]

Release

Hell of a Summer premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2023, where it was named second runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness.[9][10][1]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 54% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5/10.[11]

Valerie Complex of Deadline Hollywood gave the film a positive review. She praised Wolfhard and Bryk's direction, saying "they craft a distinct cinematic piece that is both a tribute to and a reinvention of the slasher genre". She wrote the film's lighting was an issue, which causes some of the nighttime scenes to be dimly lit. She ended her review writing that the film "is a delightful mix that strikes the right balance of '80s horror nostalgia and fresh, modern creativity. While it occasionally stumbles in its visual execution, the clever narrative and sharp societal insights ensure it’s a movie worth watching".[2]

Jourdain Searles from The Hollywood Reporter ended her review saying, "The biggest problem with Hell of a Summer is that there's really not much to say about it. Watching it is like being in a freshman film class in which the professor is asking everyone to come up with detailed notes on how to improve the film. But making a film is still an achievement in itself, paving the way for more polished work in the future. Maybe it's enough that Hell of a Summer leaves us eagerly wondering what Bryk and Wolfhard will make next".[12]

References
  1. "Hell of a Summer". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. Complex, Valerie (September 11, 2023). "Hell Of A Summer Review: Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk's Feature Helming Debut Takes A Nostalgic Dive Into Slasher Cinema – Toronto Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  3. Grobar, Matt (July 18, 2022). "Hell Of A Summer: D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Abby Quinn & Pardis Saremi Join Horror-Comedy From Directors Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  4. Lang, Brent (February 6, 2023). "Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk's Directorial Debut Hell of a Summer Drops First Look, Altitude Film Sales Boards Horror-Comedy (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  5. Romano, Nick. "Finn Wolfhard says people thought he was too young to direct slasher". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. Franklin, McKinley (September 9, 2023). "How Shaun of the Dead Inspired Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk's Directorial Debut Hell of a Summer". Variety. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  7. "Finn Wolfhard on Instagram: "We wrapped"". Instagram. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. O'Rourke, Ryan (December 12, 2022). "Finn Wolfhard Teases What to Expect From His Directorial Debut Hell of a Summer [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  9. Steve Pond, "‘American Fiction’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s Audience Award" Archived September 17, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. TheWrap, September 17, 2023.
  10. Complex, Valerie (August 3, 2023). "TIFF Unveils Cinematic First Looks With Discovery And Midnight Madness Program; World Premieres Include Hell Of A Summer, Gonzo Girl, Widow Clicquot, And Boy Kills World". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  11. "Hell of a Summer". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  12. Searles, Jourdain (September 18, 2023). "Hell of a Summer Review: Finn Wolfhard's Summer Camp Slasher Film Is Limp as Horror but Likable as Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
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