Fantasia review: RKSS returns with the effective teen thriller Summer of ’84

The summer of 1984 is cherished by genre fans, even by those not old enough to actually remember it. That one summer saw the debut of such iconic films as Gremlins, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and The Karate Kid. That massive influx of great pop culture was a boon for young, imaginative minds, so it makes sense that RKSS, the team responsible for the similarly 80’s obsessed Turbo Kid, would want to base their next film during that glorious summer.

Summer of ’84 focuses on four teenage boys, Davey, Tommy, Woody, and Curtis, who are spending their summer playing Manhunt throughout their sleepy suburban town, while getting in as much bedroom binoculars action as possible. Davey (Graham Verchere), the young conspiracist of the group, becomes convinced that local neighbourhood cop Wayne Mackey (Mad Men‘s Rich Sommer) is responsible for a string of child abductions, which leads the group of friends on a series of increasingly dangerous excursions to try to prove Mackey’s guilt.

Comparisons to Stranger Things are inevitable, given that the second season of the show took place in the same time period, with a similar set of teenage protagonists at its core. Yet apart from one quick reference to Gremlins and some quick Ewok discussion, Summer of ’84‘s three (!) directors (François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell) are less concerned with endless pop culture references as they are with creating a tangible time and place for their disturbing thriller.

Those old enough to remember the early 80’s will be instantly transported back in time, from those blue hardcover Hardy Boys novels to the killer wardrobes (the film gets extra punk points from its inclusion of D.O.A. and Modernettes posters in one character’s bedroom). The filmmakers have once again teamed up with Montreal’s Le Matos, who provide an ominous, pulsing synth score that pays homage to the slasher films of the 80’s without ever going into full-on copycat territory.

Much of Summer of ’84 plays out like an investigation, with the group of young kids playing real life Hardy Boys as they pull off daring capers trying to determine if Mackey is indeed the dreaded child abductor. Unfortunately, without delving into spoiler territory, the film suddenly gives up on the mystery at one point, which zaps the narrative of any real resolution. While the core mystery may fizzle out, the final moments of the film are so upsetting and terrifying that they’ll leave you completely shaken as the credits roll, reeling from the sharp and intense turn of events.

While the film could easily lose 20 minutes, Summer of ’84 is another accomplished genre outing from RKSS, one that showcases their great visual flair and commitment to recreating that childhood excitement of the unknown.

Summer of ’84 screens at Fantasia on Saturday, July 14th at 10:00 pm (sold out) and opens at Cinema du Parc August 3rd.