While summertime and the horror genre may seem like an unlikely pair, some of the most iconic slasher films have been set during this season. It’s a time that symbolizes freedom for a lot of young people. That’s why most of these stories focus on teenagers away from home, whether that be summer camps or spontaneous adventures.
That loss of supervision is the perfect formula for a slasher flick. Whether it’s masked killers or supernatural entities, this list highlights both classic and modern films that’ll take a nostalgic, carefree environment and transform it into something much more unsettling.
1. The Lost Boys
Directed by Joel Schumacher, this 1987 horror comedy follows a recently divorced mother and her two teenage sons, Michael and Sam, who move in with her father in Santa Carla, California. But it doesn’t take long before the brothers soon realize that the town is a haven for vampires. The influence of the vampires soon creeps up on Michael, and it’s up to Sam and his geeky, comic-obsessed friends to save him before time runs out.
This film features a handful of big-time names, such as Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, Alex Winter and Dianne Wiest. It successfully grossed $32.5 million and even led to a franchise a couple of decades later, as well as a comic book series.
What makes "The Lost Boys" so unique is its ability to balance horror with that cheesy '80s humor that you'd typically see in a John Hughes film. The villains in this story have style and suavity, and it almost makes you want to join their vampire gang.
2. Sleepaway Camp
This 1983 summer camp slasher was directed by Robert Hiltzik and takes place at Camp Arawak. The story follows an introverted girl, Angela, and her cousin, Ricky, who gets sent to a summer camp where Angela immediately gets plastered with insults and name-calling. All the while, both campers and staff start to get killed in a string of bizarre “accidents”, ending in a shocking plot twist.
This film went on to have four sequels over the next few decades and earned $11 million at the box office. While "Sleepaway Camp" is widely known for its use of controversial shock value, it also stands out by portraying horror through setting rather than just a monster. Summer camps typically signify freedom and friendship-making, but Hiltzik transforms them into something much more alienating.
3. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
In this classic '70s slasher, a group of friends travel to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way to this grave, they stumble across a deserted house, which they soon find out is owned by a family of violent cannibals.
Directed by Tobe Hooper, the film was marketed as being based on true events and loosely based on the real serial killer Ed Gein. Because of the violent content, the film faced some difficulty in being shown in theaters. Nevertheless, it became highly profitable, grossing over $30 million at the box office.
Released in 1978, "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" set the standard for classic tropes in slasher movies, from masked villains to final girls. One of the things that makes this story so creepy is its Deep South setting because it feels like there's no escape. The environment feels endless with all of its open land, making it more difficult to call out for help. This film represents the most worst case scenario of a road trip, ending up in a horrifying situation in the middle of nowhere.
4. It
In 2017, Andy Muschietti directed and re-adapted Stephen King’s novel "It". Set in Derry, Maine, over summer break, it is about seven outcasted kids known as the “Losers Club” who must overcome their fears by fighting a shape-shifting clown that emerges every 27 years to prey on kids. The film became the third-highest grossing R-rated film of that year. Two years later, the sequel was released, finishing off the rest of the novel.
Typically, when cult classics like this one get remade, the response is very mixed. However, it certainly defied those expectations with its emotional depth and terrifying jump scares.
Another aspect that stood out was the coming-of-age perspective. It's this "Stand by Me" format, only with a clown that specifically terrorizes kids. Though, this mix of horror and childhood shows a greater depth to the story, signifying how scary it can feel as a kid to transition into adolescence.
5. Fear Street: 1978
"Fear Street: 1978," directed by Leigh Janiak, is part two of a horror trilogy based on the R.L. Stine book series. It’s a modern take on the classic summer camp slasher format, following a group of teens from rival towns who must face a killing spree connected to the dark past of Shadyside.
Standing apart from its predecessors, “Friday the 13th” and “Sleepaway Camp,” the film introduces multiple killers throughout the story, making it less predictable and even more suspenseful.
It also stands apart through its complex themes, such as generational trauma. The rivalry between the two towns shapes most of the characters' decisions, as well as how they treat other characters. Another notable aspect of the film is the needle drops. They would choose these super cheerful, upbeat '70s songs during the most intense and brutal moments in the story, creating a sense of unease.