Initially, I didn’t think I was the target demo for this specific horror comedy, but the involvement of Neon and learning it was written by a couple of twentysomethings convinced me to give it a try. And I’m glad I did because this movie made me LOL more than I have in a whiiiiiile. (Outside of Righteous Gemstones.) 

Generally, camp movies scratch my itch for a summer of intermingling in somebody’s woods while doing arts and crafts, telling scary stories, developing a crush, etc. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the disposable income for me to have that experience and nearly all child-related media centers around those unforgettable summers, which left me in a state of yearning during my formative years. 

It’s that same nostalgic pull—with some gore and big laughs—that Hell of a Summer taps into.

The film follows camp counselor Jason Hochberg (Fred Hechinger), who’s struggling to connect with his teenage co-workers after they arrive at campgrounds to prep for the season. But fitting in quickly becomes the least of his worries when a masked killer begins knocking the counselors off, one by one.

Now we’ve seen every iteration of the experience, from slashers to overgrown adults trying to relive their camp years to innocent coming-of-age fun. What writer-directors Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk bring to the table is a fresh twist on a story we’re mostly familiar with—and they did it by adding contemporary tropes that showcase Gen-Z’s whipsmart and referential humor, along with a rock-solid cast of new and familiar faces.

Alongside a character whose bar for bar Darlene from Roseanne, there’s the Babygirl Feminist and his Insecure (and hilarious) Best Friend, an Aspirational Counselor in Suspended Adolescence, a Pragmatic Dream Girl, an Insufferable Amateur Screenwriter, a Goth Spiritualist, an Ambitious Influencer, a Hot Jock and a Hypocritical Vegan. 

As the killer begins mowing down their peers, we get the joyous job of watching them lose their shit, throw each under the bus and concoct one dumbass plan after another, including one involving a Ouija board that still makes me chuckle.

In an era where films with bloated runtimes have become the unfortunate norm, it’s refreshing to have a slick 88-minute horror comedy that delivers on laughs, even if it’s light on scares. That said, if you’re looking to be unnerved, there’s no shortage of camp slashers to check out: Friday the 13th 🔪, The Burning, the OG Fear Street, Sleepaway Camp etc. 

If you’re in the mood for a tight, fast-paced horror comedy where the kills are creative and the characters are deliciously clueless, this one hits the spot. It knows exactly what it is, doesn’t overstay its welcome and leaves you grinning as the blood sprays. Sometimes, that’s all you really need.