B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Hell of a Summer into the ol’ VCR.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: 

2025 is the Year of the Horror Comedy. 

• Companion 
• The Monkey 
• Bloody Axe Wound 

Just to name a few. 

And now, we can add Hell of a Summer to the list. 

I had high hopes for this one, and I can honestly say my expectations were met…and then some. 

But let’s back up. 

For those who aren’t in the know, Hell of a Summer is a love letter to the ’80s summer camp slashers that made me love the horror genre like Madman, The Burning, and Friday the 13th (1980) that also manages to throw in the humor of Wet Hot American Summer and Theater Camp. 

It tells the tale of a group of counselors at Camp Pineway as they try to survive the night while being brutally struck down by a devil-masked killer. 

Will they make it to sunrise, or will this be their last summer at camp?

Y’know, the usual. 

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge that it seems like Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk really did their homework. From the score to the kills, this entire movie SCREAMS ’80s slasher. 

Secondly, this cast is perfect. Each archetype is not only represented but perfectly acted in a way that brings a caricature to the role without being too over the top. 

Thirdly, there are some genuinely beautiful shots in this movie. Are they gruesome? Yes, but they’re almost stylized like something you’d see in a Giallo film. 

Finally, I love that no time is wasted in this movie. It sits at a tight 88 minutes, so we’re immersed in the setting from the very beginning. 

If I had to give any sort of critique for this one, it would be to give the jokes a *little* more breathing room. 

“But Baillee, you just said that you love that no time is wasted.” 

I know, but hear me out. 

You can still give the jokes a little time to breathe without wasting your short run time. 

Most of the jokes do land and have enough time to breathe, but there were a couple that I think could’ve benefited from getting an extra beat, one being Ezra’s (Matthew Finlan) Into the Woods joke. 

But, overall, I think the writing is on point. 

Hell of a Summer is the perfect way to kick off this time of the year, and I personally can’t wait to see what Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk cook up next.