While autumn holds the official title of Spooky Season, summer isn’t that far behind. There are a surprising number of horror films set during the sunniest season, and a lot of them are really good. I would go so far as to say some of the most beloved horror films of all time are ones set during the summer. Looking to spookify your summer? These are some of your best options.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) directed by Tobe Hooper
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the most influential and infamous horror movies in history. It spawned a whole host of films and inspired countless filmmakers with both its plot and aesthetic. It’s a movie that makes you feel as though you’re caked in grime and dust after watching it. The story revolves around a group of young friends traveling by van through rural Texas after one of the characters (Sally, played by Marilyn Burns) receives news that her grandfather’s grave was vandalized. Things do not go well for them as they have the unfortunate experience of running into a family of deranged cannibals. I hate when that happens. Despite its reputation for being one of the most gruesome movies of its time, there is barely any gore in the film. Most of the most horrific violence is left up to the viewer’s imagination. In fact, Hooper had hoped to get a PG rating by not showing too much of the actual violence on screen. No such luck. It was initially given an X rating before ultimately being trimmed down to an R. I guess the idea of a bunch of redneck cannibals chowing down on some young people was just a bit too much for the MPAA. Ratings aside, there’s a reason this movie is still held up as one of the greatest horror films ever made. It’s legitimately harrowing and unnerving, and it has stood the test of time.
Jaws (1975) directed by Steven Spielberg
Come on. Do I even need to explain this one? Jaws isn’t just one of the best horror films ever made. It’s one of the best and most successful films ever made regardless of genre. I’ve written about this before, but Jaws spawned the modern day blockbuster. It’s also intrinsically tied to summer as the plot hinges upon a greedy mayor wanting to keep the beaches open for the Fourth of July in the face of a string of fatal shark attacks. I also find it ironic that this movie was given a PG rating the year after The Texas Chainsaw Massacre failed to achieve the same rating despite Jaws having significantly more blood onscreen than Hooper’s flick. I guess sharks eating people is more tolerable than people eating people.
The Hills Have Eyes (1977) directed by Wes Craven
Of all of the films inspired by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in the wake of its success, The Hills Have Eyes is the one that I personally enjoy the most. It tells the story of a suburban family on vacation as they cross through the Nevada desert that is unknowingly inhabited by a family of cannibals. Once they become stranded in the desert, the family is forced to fend off raids by the cannibals as they try to survive. The film turns into a kind of clash of civilizations between modern sensibilities and unrestrained barbarism. It’s only the second feature film directed by Wes Craven, and his direction is what really makes the film stand out.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) directed by Joseph Zito
Hot take incoming: I don’t think the first three Friday the 13th movies are very good. The first one is an admitted cash grab as the filmmakers wanted to ride the coattails of John Carpenter’s Halloween. It’s little more than a generic slasher. The first two sequels don’t exactly improve upon that formula. The fourth one, however, is a legitimately good slasher. It once again takes place near Camp Crystal Lake, but this time Jason Vorhees is targeting a group of vacationing teenagers and a local family. It should also be noted that this movie and the previous two installments take place immediately after each other. Rough few days at the lake. This one is worth watching for Tom Savini’s outstanding makeup effects, the inventive kills, and the most interesting characters to appear in the series thus far. Also, Crispin Glover has the greatest dance sequence in the history of cinema.
Near Dark (1987) directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Near Dark feels like the forgotten vampire movie of 1987. The Lost Boys (released the same year) has endured as a cultural touchstone of its time with its blend of horror and comedy along with its distinctively ‘80s flare, but Near Dark is my vampire movie of choice. It’s a much darker and more violent film that blends classic vampire tropes with a Western flavor. It also makes the life (unlife?) of a vampire seem a lot less glamorous than how it is depicted in other films. Most importantly, it has arguably my favorite Bill Paxton performance of all time as the sadistic and (literally) bloodthirsty Severen.
Us (2019) directed by Jordan Peele
Another hot take incoming: I think Us is Jordan Peele’s best film. It’s the most purely horror of his three feature films to date, and I think it is far and away his scariest. I don’t want to say too much about the plot since the revelations that emerge throughout the film are a huge part of what makes it such a fun movie. The important thing to know is that it’s about a family of four on a summer vacation to Santa Cruz who gets terrorized by some home invaders at their beach house. Lupita Nyong’o turns in a superstar performance as the lead, but the entire cast is excellent. We even get Tim Heidecker as an asshole frenemy of the family. The thing that really makes Us so great is its examination of class politics in America and the way society turns a blind eye to the less fortunate.
Midsommar (2019) directed by Ari Aster
Once again, this choice should be self-explanatory. It has a pretty simple premise on its surface: a group of American grad students take a trip to Sweden where they spend time at a pagan commune that might have some sinister motivations. That’s a pretty well worn horror premise by this point. What makes this film so compelling is that it uses this setting to explore the impact of being in a toxic relationship on a person’s mental health. Florence Pugh is phenomenal as the protagonist of the film as she deals with a devastating family tragedy, her shitty boyfriend and his equally shitty friends, and a potential murder cult. It also does something that is extremely rare in horror movies: almost all of the horror takes place in beautiful bright sunlight. There’s an inherent sense of safety among horror audiences when a scene is set during the day. Midsommar shatters that sense of safety. Aster is more than happy to not just show horrific acts taking place while bathed in sunlight, but he also lets the camera linger on some of the most gruesome and realistic violence put to film. It’s a deeply upsetting film, but it’s an excellent viewing experience for those who can stomach it.