Hell of a Summer is the campy throwback slasher written and directed by Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard and his buddy Billy Bryk. The story follows Jason Hochberg, a camp counselor who believes his biggest challenge is his struggle to connect with his teenage co-workers. However, Jason’s problems take a far more terrifying turn when a masked killer begins lurking on the campgrounds, picking off victims one by one. As the bodies start to pile up, Jason must confront not only the horror unfolding around him but also the realization that the true danger is closer than he ever imagined.

Let me start by saying, this film is not scary, but it’s pretty funny. The humor, while light-hearted, never undermines the sense of real danger that lurks throughout the film. The masked killer, though not overly original, is effectively menacing, and the red herrings kept me guessing throughout until the final reveal.

Each character in Hell of a Summer is a modern take on familiar archetypes from classic camp horror films. There’s the counselor who’s clearly too old to be there, the popular couple, the nerd, the openly gay character, as well as the one who’s constantly trying to prove he’s too cool for school, to name a few. Throughout the film, I found myself rooting for each of them to stay alive, but being excited by the creative deaths.

While most of the kills occur off-camera, due to both storytelling choices and likely budget constraints, each reveal offers a fresh and inventive twist on the typical slasher death.

Overall, Hell of a Summer doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Instead, it’s a fun love letter to campy slashers of the past that’s worth a watch. Check it out in theaters starting April 4, 2025!

Keep Reading: