Runtime:
105 minutes
Directed
by: Francois Simard/Anouk Whissell/Yoann-Karl Whissel
Starring:
Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, Cory Gruter-Andrew, Rich
Sommer
From:
Brightlight Pictures/Gunpowder & Sky
Yep, there sure is no shortage of retro-themed media out there these days:
If
only this story wouldn't have been so cliché it'd probably have been
viewed as old hat in 1984... this is from the makers of Turbo Kid,
something I wish wouldn't have been so damned annoying as it had some
worthwhile moments. Thankfully I liked this more, although it still had
its issues... most of which I won't spoil here.
The plot is simple enough: a quartet of 15 year old boys-who are cliché themselves but then again the same can be said about the Stranger Things kids, to be fair-get involved in a mystery when the lead Davey suspects that his next door neighbor police officer is actually a serial killer. Various things will remind you of Stranger Things (including them riding around on bikes and using walkie-talkies) but that gang was not a bunch of horndogs who often make lewd comments about women, including the 18 year old blonde that lives nearby which Davey swoons over.
Like I said the story has its issues-including being predictable-and I am not sure about some things that occur in the final act... they'll probably be a turn-off for some as much as others will think it's the bee's knees. What helps for me is that the kids are all amusing even if they are stereotypes and even if they are so foul-mouthed as many 15 year old boys are and they happily look at dirty magazines and make crude yet amazing references to Gremlins. The character of Nikki (the 18 year old blonde) seemed confused at times but I have no complaints with the performance by the actress. Rich Sommer-who I understand was in Breaking Bad-was swell as the police officer, who plays it to make you guess if he is the villain or the kids are on a wild goose chase.
This has much of what you'd expect from the now-popular 80's retro wave going on... the funny clothing, plenty of references and a synthwave score. Even if this did not blow me away, I do not regret giving this a shot either... that said, obvious inspirations for Summer of 84 (I am looking at such things as The 'Burbs and Stand by Me) are better.
The plot is simple enough: a quartet of 15 year old boys-who are cliché themselves but then again the same can be said about the Stranger Things kids, to be fair-get involved in a mystery when the lead Davey suspects that his next door neighbor police officer is actually a serial killer. Various things will remind you of Stranger Things (including them riding around on bikes and using walkie-talkies) but that gang was not a bunch of horndogs who often make lewd comments about women, including the 18 year old blonde that lives nearby which Davey swoons over.
Like I said the story has its issues-including being predictable-and I am not sure about some things that occur in the final act... they'll probably be a turn-off for some as much as others will think it's the bee's knees. What helps for me is that the kids are all amusing even if they are stereotypes and even if they are so foul-mouthed as many 15 year old boys are and they happily look at dirty magazines and make crude yet amazing references to Gremlins. The character of Nikki (the 18 year old blonde) seemed confused at times but I have no complaints with the performance by the actress. Rich Sommer-who I understand was in Breaking Bad-was swell as the police officer, who plays it to make you guess if he is the villain or the kids are on a wild goose chase.
This has much of what you'd expect from the now-popular 80's retro wave going on... the funny clothing, plenty of references and a synthwave score. Even if this did not blow me away, I do not regret giving this a shot either... that said, obvious inspirations for Summer of 84 (I am looking at such things as The 'Burbs and Stand by Me) are better.
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