Day 237 of the challenge! Summer of '84 IS NOT Stranger Things. Make no mistake, it's horror is much darker, and much more real.
There's a group of teenage friends, each with their own personality quirks and personal issues to overcome. There's a pretty girl next door they all pine for, mostly absent parents that are always conveniently "out" when the action starts, as many 80's references as you could possibly want (or dread), and an adventure to be had; in this case, a mystery about a possible serial killer living in the neighborhood. In other words, Summer of '84 sets itself up and plays out just as you would expect one of these 80s inspired "kids on bikes" movies to. Then it flips them all on their heads, leaving you shell shocked.
The mystery at the center of '84 is interesting enough to keep you on your toes, mixed in with enough character moments (both funny and touching) to keep you invested. But it's the film's subversion and remixing of the almost fairy tale like "kids on bikes" subgenre tropes that make the movie destined for cult status. Most of the subversions start small, like the noticeable absence of the fun and adventurous atmosphere that dominates most of the movies '84 no doubt took inspiration from, replaced instead with a much darker and sinister one. Little changes that are not little enough not to be felt.
They grow bigger as the film goes along, with the most significant being that Summer of '84 continues the story past the point of the more traditional ending we all expected, grounding the movie in a traumatic and unforgiving reality. Think back to all the times you've watched one of these movies (or shows) and thought "those kids would be dead in real life" or something along those lines. Summer of '84 strips back the fairy tale and shows us that real life, and the real life consequences these kind of adventures could have.
Liked:
Read above.
SO MANY reminders that this movie took place in the 80s. Bordering on the distracting. I tend to enjoy them for the most part though.
Killer soundtrack (pun intended).
Didn't like:
The pacing is almost too slow burning, especially in it's second act. But when it picks up, IT PICKS UP.
It's very choppy. Most of the side plots aren't developed enough for a impactful resolutions.