Hell of a Summer

Synopsis: Camp counselor Jason Hochberg thinks his biggest problem is feeling out of touch with his teenage co-workers. What he doesn't know is that a mysterious masked killer is lurking on the campgrounds, brutally picking off victims one by one. 

Movie Review: 

"Hell of a Summer" is a horror slasher comedy directed by Billy Bryk and Finn Wolfhard, marking their directorial debut. The film feels like a fun throwback to the early 80s with some funny moments and gruesome bloody scenes that make it an enjoyable watch.

Fred Hechinger plays Jason Hochberg, a 24-year-old who refuses to grow up. He gives a decent performance as this lovable man-child, but I found his character to be awkward and weird, making him more cringeworthy. Abby Quinn, who plays Claire, Jason's love interest, was funny, smart, and had great chemistry with Fred, adding a romantic touch to the film.

Finn Wolfhard also stars as Chris Tian, who is charming, funny, and charismatic. I thought he should have been the star of the movie, as his character had a better storyline and more depth than Jason. Billy Bryk steals the show as Booby, Chris's sarcastic and silly best friend, who adds a hilarious element to the film.

Both Billy Bryk and Finn Wolfhard did a great job behind the camera, incorporating fun throwbacks to the slasher genre with chase scenes and bloody kills that add suspense and scares. Some of the supporting characters were annoying and seemed to be there just to get killed. The twist of who the killer was felt predictable and not as well-executed as in other slashers.

Overall, "Hell of a Summer" is a flawed but funny comedy slasher with two up-and-coming directors who show promise for the future. I would give it a 3.5/5 stars.

Director: Billy Bryk, Finn Wolfhard 

Cast: Fred Hechinger, Abby Quinn, D’Pharaoh Woon A-Tai, Billy Bryk, Finn Wolfhard, Krista Nazaire, Pardis Saremi, Julia Lalonde, Daniel Gravelle, Julia Doyle, Susan Coyne with Rosebud Baker and Adam Pally 

Runtime: 88 Minutes