The Horror Show
Summer of 84
by François Simard, Anouk Whissell,
Yoann-Karl Whissell
In 1984 I was eight years old. I was into Care Bears, My Little Pony, Star Wars, and He-Man. (She-Ra wouldn't come into my life until the next year.) I didn't care that the Summer Olympics were happening. I didn't care about Reagan being president. I remember hearing stories of the Night Stalker. Growing up in Georgia, I knew of the Atlanta Child Murders. I remember the first face of a missing child on a carton of milk. I didn't care. All I cared about was kid things. Summer of 84 the movie is definitely not about kid things. Even serial killers live next door to somebody.
This is a good example of a modern day “Kids on Bikes” type movie. You know what I mean, The Goonies, The Explorers, Monster Squad, and to some extent shows like Stranger Things that was based on those types of movies. However, Summer of 84 also takes from darker movies like The 'Burbs and even Rear Window. They totally don't shy away from themes like child murder.
The movie is the story of five friends enjoying being teens during summer. Paper routes, night time games of Manhunt, sleepovers, girls, bowling, and trying to figure out if the cop that lives across the street is the Cape Bay Killer. Of course, this being an “80's” movie the boys all fit a stereotype: the tough leather jacket wearing kid, the nerd, the fat kid, and the hero boy. Childhood friends holding on to the last moments of innocence only to have it shattered by the disappearance of boys their age. Davey, our paper route hero boy starts to suspect his neighbor across the street after he begins to notice some shady happenings. He enlists his friends to help him investigate. Adventure ensues!
This is a movie that will punch you in the gut. It's fun to see all the nods to the eighties. References to GI Joe, Magnum PI, The Thing, and so much more are hidden in the setting of this suburban cul-de-sac. However, unlike the movies this one models itself after, it takes a turn and just grabs you by the throat. I won't spoil it, but oh my goodness, it's a doozy.
Growing up in a neighborhood like this, during this time, it was a wonderful experience. I didn't have any serial killers living next door. Although, there was a house that was rumored to be haunted. It was abandoned and had axe marks in the doors and blood on the floor. Maybe the serial killer moved out before we got there. Who knows!?
Summer of 84 is available on Shudder. I totally recommend it to anyone who loves the 80's or if they're needing a fix before we get Stranger Things season three.
Robin Thompson, HMS
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