Hell of a Summer (2023)

This is the movie that I thought we would finally have our classic camp murder movie. I was planning on saying during this that the idea of a murderer invading a camp ground does seem to be a classic horror movie troupe and then I got to thinking. We are on day 18 of watching a Halloween film every day of October and this is the first movie that has even mentioned a summer camp. What's more the only other film I can think of that is based around camp like this is Friday the 13th, which I am now realising isn't even on the list. Maybe next year? I am sure there are plenty of other movies set on an actual camp ground like this that I am just not aware of but even then if I am being honest I love the idea of a camp horror. There is a line of course: too many films can overcrowd things making them less enjoyable and I am talking specifically about a summer camp with cabins not just plain camping in the woods or a single wooden hut. Perhaps it is part of me that really wanted to go to a summer camp but never did that enjoys watching those that go there getting hurt or maybe it is the larger sense of community that typically comes from this style of film.

Depending on the movie there is always a core group that takes on the murderer but in my experience the usual limit is around 5, where as when you introduce camp councillor rules where each one has their own jurisdiction it allows for more. Hence why in this film there are instead 10 different 'main characters'. And I must give a round of applause to the creators because they ensured each person got an adequate amount of screen time. Which is an incredible feat considering there will always be favourable characters and lesser shown (and that is true even in this) but regardless each actor has a set amount of time that perfectly encompasses the characters they are embodying. Meaning that even if one character was seen much less than the others they were still pictured in a round structure rather than a 2-dimensional body purely meant for the first kill. That was something I enjoyed in this film as someone who enjoys some of the more smaller details and trust me there was plenty.

For example, the humour played such a huge part in this film. There were so many moments when I thought maybe this was going to turn out to be more of a parody movie which I suppose it can be argued however I feel it took more of a modern humourous twist. I have found that with a lot of comedy attempting to comment about the modern world and culture is a very difficult thing to do affectively. This is coming from the stand point of a purely observation role and it is clear that not a lot of people know how to accurately display newer generations and as a result becomes more of an exaggeration. I have written about this before, how when playing a gen z character they simplify it to a person stuck on their phone saying slay every ten seconds and not wanting to work. Sure those things individually are traits of a lot of gen z but when that is all they are simplified into it becomes obnoxious, instead the trick is in the subtly by making various comments over a span of time and that is something that this film does really well. An example I can think of is Bobby as a character. Bobby was such a rounded character that I could apply each trait he showed to someone I have met in my life. And that is because although his characters motivation is to get laid or have a girlfriend that is not all he is diminished into. He isn't constantly going to all the woman trying to flirt but he waits for them to go to him and I think a large part of that is because he doesn't want the embarrassment of getting rejected.

I would say it is very typical of either the attractive jock or geeky smart kid to be the one looking for a relationship. Each one will then use their expertise (attractive and sporty or nerdy knowledge) to attempt to flirt with a girl but it usually doesn't work out because they need to be more like the other (jock needs to get smarter, nerd needs more confidence). Therefore the rest of the movie allows for those characters to have an arc and slightly change their behaviour so that they are a more well rounded individual that meets the balance. Bobby however joins the film already with some element of balance. He enters with a strong determination that leaks over into confidence and has the softer nerdy side to him which gives him the roundedness for a relationship. That is why when he finally makes a move to go over to Miley he is self assured that this will work because he already sculpted the plan. We was confident with his plan of pretending he is vegetarian which he used as a tactic to get close because he was 'smart' enough to know what she cares a lot about. Then because she seemed intrigued his confidence was boosted and he was able to flirt better which is why it seemed to be going well. He was able to pull on both elements of the spectrum to create this balance and it was working for him up until he mentioned dairy which was simply not a part of the plan he was expecting. As I said he wasn't a perfect balanced character but it makes a change to see a character so broadly shown rather than defining them specifically into one box.

Furthermore the spur of the moment jokes were some of the best moments from the movie. Such as Chris defending his step dad against Bobby because 'he's great' before apologizing because he doesn't have a step dad yet and it might seem insensitive. It wasn't a long spread gag that was repeated through out but a one off comment that again added depth and a little realism. I thought the same thing about the character Ari and his obsession with his own peanut butter allergy. The second I saw him on my screen talking about his nut allergy as if it were the pinnacle of oppression to a black woman all for a little attention I knew what kind of man he was. I didn't even need any other context he could have died immediately after and I would have known who he was. It was the same small jokes that happened later like when Chris yelled about getting water and throwing it saying 'stay dehydrated them' before pausing briefly and going to get more water. Moments that in itself are not funny and yet I find them funny. A long elaborate set up for a joke is great and all but sometimes I just like the short and snappy one liners, that is enough for me and this film had many.

Now onto the characters. I was so confident and subsequently embarrassed about Jason being the killer. They build up his character as someone who was devoted to this camp and what better way to promote it than faking an attack in which you are the hero that prevails. I was especially confident in this when Jason started handing out cards to choose who would go with him on the mission to find a phone that works. Previously in the film we were shown that Jason can do magic, specifically card magic so what better way to choose who you want to kill next than by giving them the lowest card through slight of hand magic and framing it as bad luck. And then when they both didn't return I was feeling even greater. And then everyone else starter ganging up on Jason and I was in on it! They were saying the exact same stuff I had said! And we were only half way through the film!... But they were agreeing with me a little too hard... And I realised I had tragically been got by the red herring. For those who don't know the red herring character is the character that is highlighted specifically as being the killer to throw us off any suspicion of the real killer. And I fell for it hook, line and sinker. I felt so ashamed. Only for it to be revealed the real killer was Demi and Mike! I truly don't think I have ever been more shocked.

You could have given me a million chances and I wouldn't have guessed those two. I even thought it was strange at the start seeing Demi as a camp councillor because she is so high maintenance. She brought about five suitcases and was vloging in her cabin. She was the classic rich girl living off daddies money so I was confused why she would ever become a councillor but figured it was something to do with her parents forcing her. Which in fairness could all still be true, she said she had worked there for a while building up resentment so I was right in a way. I just can't believe I had no indication. What's more the ambition to be famous is what drove her to murder is such an iconic reason to kill them all. She just wants to be famous not even rich because she was looking forward to going to jail. Even after the plan switched and they realised they can get fame by being the only survivors against 'Jason' she was still pissed because she would never get the fame that Jason would as the 'killer'. And isn't the fucked up! But she's right the killer is always more notorious than those that survived them. And she was such a girl boss while doing it too. Jason tried the whole 'this isn't you, I know you' bullshit and she shut that down right away saying she was a strong independent woman who came up with the intention to kill and is standing by it and you just have to commend that. Then there was Mike who was so infatuated not just with Demi but with Demi post killing spree. I even have to give it to him a little, he's so loyal and so sexually into murder or more so sex after they have both murdered that that too became campy. In fact the whole movie was campy. It was a campy camp movie and I loved it!

Hell of a Summer was such a pleasant surprise. I do feel it should be said that having Finn Wolfhard as the co-director and writer in this could be a large part of why I liked it. Finn is an actor himself so he was likely able to direct easier as he has the experience himself and he is the same age as those who are likely going to see this film. Both of which help to ensure the movie goes well and is not over exaggerated in a bad way, instead he finds the balance that makes a corny film good. I especially love how full circle the film ends as it starts with a councillor couple sat by the water and ends with a new generation of councillor couples. It joins it in a joyful way and although I do sort of wish they ended with Jason saying he is thinking of leaving the camp before cutting to him next year still at camp, the way the ended was still strong. And if they had ended it with him at camp again it may have pushed it ever so slightly into the repetitive category. For that reason I have rated this movie highly and for the first time I can say I would add this to my annual October Spooky watch list.