Summer of 84: A Brilliant, Terrifying, Nostalgia‑Infused Horror

By Redmanwriter on August 19, 2024

Alice Oscura, Featured Writer

Warning: The following contains SPOILERS

"Every serial killer is somebody's neighbor"—Davey Armstrong, Summer of 84 (2018)

Yeah, it may be time to wrap for the day

What would you do if you suspected that your neighbour was a serial killer? That's the predicament that Davey Armstrong faces in Summer of 84. This teen-oriented horror was directed by the Canadian film-making trio François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell who represent themselves as RKSS (Roadkill Superstars). This is only their second feature film, which had its theatrical release in August 2018.

It follows the story of 15-year-old Davey Armstrong (Graham Verchere) and his friends Dale "Woody" Woodworth (Caleb Emery), Curtis Farraday (Cory Grüter-Andrew), and Tommy "Eats" Eaton (Judah Lewis) during the summer vacation in 1984. Davey works a paper route but spends most of his time obsessing upon conspiracy theories, reading The Hardy Boys novels, hanging out in a tree house in his friend Eats' yard, and playing a game called "Manhunt" in their neighbours' backyards. Together, the boys live in a quaint, little suburb called Ipswich in a district known as Cape May in Oregon. However, the Cape May law enforcement has been anxiously trying to capture an active serial killer dubbed the "Cape May Slayer", who has already taken at least 13 teenaged boys over the span of ten years.

What in tarnation?!

One morning, during Davey's paper route, neighbour Wayne Mackey (Rich Sommer) asks Davey for help moving a piece of furniture into his basement. Davey hears a mysterious noise coming from behind a padlocked door in Mackey's basement and becomes immediately suspicious. While playing a game of "Manhunt" one night, Davy notices a teenage boy sitting down in Mackey's living room. A few weeks later, Davey notices that the same boy's picture ends up on the milk carton as a missing person. He immediately becomes convinced that Mackey must be the Cape May Slayer. The only problem is that Mackey is a police officer and a local hero. Davey and his friends begin spying on him and gathering evidence in order to prove Davey's theory. However, the closer the gang gets to discovering the truth, the more dangerous and riskier it becomes for them.

Summer of 84 is simply oozing with 80s-specific nostalgia and references. But nothing will make you feel giddier than the blatant similarities and nods to iconic films of the era. The atmosphere feels like The Goonies (1985) meets Fright Night (1985) meets Stranger Things (2017). Laying hidden behind suburbia's facade of perfectly mowed lawns, neighbourly greetings and children playing catch with a baseball happily in the streets was a very human monster, which makes the plot all the more relatable and terrifying. The second act gets infinitely darker and more sinister. Davey and his friends are prematurely forced to leave their adolescent bliss and indulgences behind once the threat becomes very real and dangerous. But, of course, we have to mention that the performances by these young actors are absolutely amazing considering the fact that the majority of them are fresh faces to the industry.

Do you see what I see? No. You're holding the binoculars numb nuts

There are not many horror films out there that are brave enough to cross that line when it comes to putting minors in a situation of great peril for the sake of a plot. Especially when the danger depicted can be very real as, unfortunately, sometimes parents are unable to protect and safeguard their kids 24/7 from these types of threats. The most shocking moments of the film are the scenes when you realise that Davey has been right all along. When he is finally able to convince the adults and the law enforcement of Ipswich, it's basically too late because Mackey gets wise, which leads the audience into one of the most disturbing and terrifying climaxes that I've ever witnessed in a teen-based horror. Without revealing too much, Davey's life is permanently changed after this experience and leaves the audience with an inconclusive result by the end of the film. And while the ending fails to reward the audience with that necessity for closure, you get the feeling that Davey is kind of resigned to the fate of his future from here on.

Within the last few years, we've been seeing more and more retro 80s-themed teenage horror flicks that seem to be trying to hitch a ride on the coat tails of the success of Netflix's Stranger Things. When you come across one that is executed well, you get everything that you're expecting wrapped up in a neat package. However, with Summer 84, you are able to get so much more out of the experience. The unexpected twists manage to add a realistic spin to the plot, and what's more terrifying than reality with an uncertain future?

Do not go down there! But you're going to do it any way, aren't you? Horror movie characters. They never listen

It's brilliant, entertaining and terrifying. I thoroughly enjoyed Summer of 84. While the ending is ambiguous and leaves a lot of open questions, the filmmakers seem to have no intentions of doing a sequel at the moment. However, if they were presented with a satisfactory script, they admitted that they would be open to the idea. So, fans, get to writing.

Dark Alice Score: 8.5 out of 10

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Dark Alice has an old soul and a curious mind. I believe that anyone can be a hero and that the good guys should always win! I dislike cruelty to animals and think that they have far superior qualities to humans. My motto is there is no future without the past. I also have a weird penchant for Paranormal TV shows even though the slightest sound makes me jump. I enjoy writing reviews and throwing in fun facts to pique the readers' curiosity. My ultimate goal in life would be to become a published writer one day. Read More