Premise: A teen boy and his friends suspect their police officer neighbor is actually a serial killer.
This movie is a really pleasing mix of several things without being a master of any. It's fair to assume this got a greenlight thanks to Stranger Things. It has some similarities with the 80s setting and its homage to genre without specifically copying anything. Instead of Sci-Fi, this is a horror thriller. It doesn't hit hard on the scares though. It's kind of a vibe movie.
I'm a fan of how quickly the movie got to certain plot points. Davey (Graham Verchere) tells his parents that he believes his neighbor is a serial killer really early. When they go into Officer Mackey's (Rich Sommer) house and discover his basement dungeon, they get out easily. I was fully expecting false tension from Mackey returning and chasing them down. I didn't even know how to comprehend Davey bringing the evidence to the police and them immediately believing him. So many movies manufacture more doubt and play games, that I've learned to accept those annoyances as part of the deal. It's cool to see this movie reject so many of the contrivances. The last act ramps up really nicely too. It's a shame they couldn't've found a way to put some of that kind of excitement in the middle, since it does drag a bit. The movie never quite figures out what to do with the fact that the audience figures out that Mackey is the killer in the first 10 minutes. I think the filmmakers expect the audience to assume that. They could've played more games with that then.
In the end, Summer of 84 is a good bit of weaponized nostalgia that doesn't feel cheap. The surprises are more in the pacing and plotting decisions than in traditional thrills. It edges right up against satire while managing to stay sincere. A really satisfying movie.
Verdict: Strongly Recommend
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