There is something inherently familiar of Summer of 84, yet something fresh at the same time. The familiarity stems from it embracing a strong sense of 80’s nostalgia and containing thriller elements of Rear Window, Disturbia, Fright Night and Stranger Things. The latter has been a driving force in this sort of nostalgic renaissance. It’s no secret that Stranger Things revels heavily in style and structure that is similar to The Goonies which has allowed it to appeal to those who remember growing up with it and to those who are discovering it for the first time. Stranger Things solidified the success of throwing it back to the greats on television while the 2017 take on Stephen King’s It, showed that success could be duplicated on the big screen as well. Nostalgia certainly sells because most of us find comfort in themes and feelings that are safe and familiar. Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One is another recent example of this new wave of nostalgic excess. What’s old is most definitely new again.
Summer of 84 follows similar beats to some of these recent projects with its attention to 80’s style, its synth inspired soundtrack and it’s depiction of a ragtag group of friends who are seeking out their own adventure rather than meandering inside melting away in front of the television. The thriller element of the aforementioned films is definitely an influence but it also owes a debt to coming of age efforts such as Stand By Me in its sincerity in showing the bonds between best friends. Summer of 84 brings us in by touching on our love for all the throwbacks but it maintains our interest with a compelling story, expertly executed moments of suspense and a climax that surprises in a significant way. With so many projects emerging that are similar in tone, it would be easy to ignore Summer of 84 but this is a film that deserves your attention and continues a banner year for horror and suspense.
The story centers on Davey (Graham Verchere), a teenager who gets it in his head that his cheery cop neighbor is a serial killer. He convinces his friends to devote their summer to spying on the guy and gathering evidence. Their descent into being junior detectives is played for a bit of humor in the beginning, mostly because while it appears Davey’s neighbor might be up to no good, this is seen through the eyes of teenagers and the film makes a strong case that they’re blowing things out of proportion. As they get closer to the truth, the scenario becomes much more dangerous and what begins as fun and games, becomes a disturbing mystery that makes you wonder how well you might know your own neighbors.
The tone of Summer of 84 is one of its strongest attributes. It’s not an edge of your seat thrill ride, at least in the beginning. The camaraderie between the friends which has them dealing with raging hormones, breaking the rules and just simply trying to enjoy their summer, takes up a bulk of the film’s runtime. The significance of this is that we get to know the characters and grow to like them but it also makes us drop our guard a bit. The moments of suspense sneak up on you because it lingers effectively in the background for the most part. The filmmaking trio, consisting of François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell, have a great feel for how kids talk and behave, which makes them engaging and believable. The filmmakers also know how to gracefully shift from teen coming of age comedy to horror and suspense. And the horrors they depict are not just about the possibility of a serial killer next door but also about emotional and physical violence kids see in their homes between people who claim to love each other. The issues that these kids are going through aren’t heavy handed but they come into focus just enough to be a part of the theme that you really don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.
Mystery-wise, the film teases viewers pretty effectively, with plenty of jolts that suggest the boys are on the right track balanced by other signs they’re making something out of nothing. The film makes you go back and forth believing either of these scenarios could be the case and you really don’t know for sure where it’s headed until it dives into a third act that is downright dark. The climax is effective because it goes to places you know it will, and sometimes very uncomfortable places, but the filmmakers also make one decision that results in an ending that is terrifying because it doesn’t go where you think it might go and it leaves you with a particularly haunting feeling (It also leaves you with the feeling that a sequel could totally work. Summer of 85 perhaps?)
The acting from all involved is pretty solid. Graham Verchere is an effective lead, exhibiting likability and a sense of urgency that makes us believe in his efforts, even if the film does a good job of making us doubt him. He leads the young cast well but Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, Cory Gruter-Andrew, and Tiera Skovbye are all worthy of a mention and give the audience different personalities to identify with. The adult presence is lacking, but this is a purposeful move. A lot of the film works because the kids feel alone in their pursuit of the truth and when they do involve adults, as is the case with kids in most horror films, they are dismissed. Summer of 84 makes a strong case that when your kids make noise, you need to listen.
Rich Sommer, playing the “is he or isn’t he?” serial killer, Wayne Mackey, makes a strong case that the kids may be off base. This isn’t an easy part to play because he has to be nice enough but slightly off-kilter to engage our suspicions. Sommer hits all the right beats with the role and it’s honestly a performance that should be witnessed without giving too much away. He definitely comes off as the neighbor you wish you could have but also one that would make you look sideways at him.
The one drawback to the film is pacing. The movie is never boring but, no matter how thrilling the climax may be, it feels a bit bloated and certain aspects could’ve been trimmed a bit to make it a bit more seamless. It’s ultimately not a total detriment because the climax is highly effective but moments leading up to it could’ve been handled with a bit more editing care.
Despite the pacing criticism, which is minimal, Summer of 84 is a satisfyingly suspenseful adventure, with compelling characters, and a chilling murder mystery at its center. It feels like a throwback in the best way, relishing in the aesthetic of the era without winking at the audience. The film also knows that we are all familiar with this kind of neighborhood that seems to be hiding secrets beneath its beautiful exterior. Its 80’s setting doesn’t feel like an opportunistic tool for easy nostalgia, but more a necessity to capture this confusing time of stranger danger, where kids were allowed to wander around unsupervised in the dark, yet were warned of a seeming epidemic of kidnappings. It was a time where we felt both free and paranoid, and Summer of 84 captures that paradox superbly.
