Hell of a Summer

Hell of a Summer
Starring Fred Hechinger, Abby Quinn, Billy Bryk, Finn Wolfhard
Directed by Billy Bryk & Finn Wolfhard

The summer camp slasher subgenre has existed for a long time, most notably Jason Voorhees and the "Friday the 13th" series, but there's countless other imitators and the like including "Sleepaway Camp," "The Burning," "Bloody Murder" and this year's "Marshmallow," where a group of counselors or kids get stalked by a masked killer. "Hell of a Summer" is among those movies, and doesn't deviate from its intended purpose - which is fine, considering its the directorial debut for both Billy Bryk and "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard, and they prove themselves capable of handling a movie of this caliber that only shows they have room to grow and adapt as directors themselves.

24-year-old Jason Hochberg (Fred Hechinger) is excited to once again serve as head counselor at Camp Pineway, despite his age. He tries to round up the counselors together, but they ignore him and treat him like crap because he's "aged out" of the program, yet still wants to be a part of it. The counselors party before the kids arrive, but the party is cut short when a masked killer starts picking them off one-by-one, leading them to wonder who among them is the killer, leading them to the only logical conclusion: Jason.

"Hell of a Summer" is one hell of a good time, due to the comradere between the cast and the jokes they tell, most of which seem appropriately ad-libbed. The characters are relatable and enjoyable, and while they hold to their stock characteristics (the theater nerd, the diva, the rebel, the goth, the vegan, etc.) they are still fully developed enough to care whether or not they get the axe. It doesn't reinvent the subgenre, and doesn't need to, but rather is just an enjoyable, scant 85-minute movie that is best watched in the company of friends who all have an appreciation for the subgenre.

Fred Hechinger is a tremendous actor in his own right, appearing in films like "Kraven," "Gladiator II" and "Thelma," and he really takes center stage as the aloof, lovable Jason Hochberg (which, I'm pretty sure, is a dead-on name for someone the counselors think is the killer). He really wants to be a kid, and enjoys his time at the camp so much he's oblivious to the taunts of the other counselors, and even when he's accused of being the killer he's still as sweet as can be. It's a fun role for him, and unlike the other actors in this movie, he has the most to work with. The remainder of the cast are relegated to their tropes, but do so in a way that's humorous and heartfelt, and you remember them at the end - even if you don't remember their names.

Byrk and Wolfhard don't delve deep into any developments of the plot but keeps it as simple as can be: masked killer, counselors, murder, suspicion, humor. Mix them all together and you got a comfort food movie that is sadly skimping on the gore, but a very assured debut for two young filmmakers making a name for themselves in the horror genre.

The Score: B+