A good thriller-mystery is a mix of all the essential ingredients: fear, hate, revenge, suspense and exclusion. And Freeform's latest TV series, "Dead of Summer" seems to have all of these plot elements. The latest summer mystery thriller hopes to evoke a sense of horror among fans as it depicts one character's experience at a summer camp.
[Spoilers Ahead]
"Dead of Summer," set in Camp Stillwater, captures seven counsellors' return to the woods. However, things will go awry pretty soon as strange occurrences take place. The show's protagonist, Amy, is the first to discover the threat of the supernatural but will people believe her?
Cast member Amber Coney said that "Dead of Summer" plot consists of a "main storyline" and beneath it is a "horror plot" that's sure to keep fans guessing. The actress also teased the possibility of romance and friendships, which will offer a key-hole perspective into each character's life, according to Bustle.
"Dead of Summer" Season 1 episode 1 airs at 9 p.m. EST on Tuesday, June 28, on Freeform. You can live-stream it via Freeform Go.
Here's what critics have to say:
This show follows seven counselors at a summer camp in the 1980s, which could be a recipe for absurdist hilarity if not for the fact that this particular camp is being reopened after being abandoned for several years. So yeah, we're in spooky shit territory here, and the presence of Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell as the camp's new owner only strengthens the sense that we're in for some deep, dark, possibly incomprehensible mysteries.
"Dead of Summer" takes the traditional summer camp horror movie formula and turns it into a more palatable summer series. Freeform, formerly known as ABC Family, has a history of teen focused programming and this series isn't any different. And, considering the setting and the time of year its released, "Dead of Summer" comes at a perfect time for its target audience.
Through three episodes, the show (beginning on Tuesday night) can't seem to decide what it wants to be. It hits the perfunctory notes of straight-ahead hot-kids-in-creepy-forest horror, but adds elements of "Scream"-style self-consciousness and "Wet Hot American Summer" nostalgia. (It's set in 1989, with R.E.M. and Guns N' Roses on the soundtrack.) It also nods to the found-footage genre, with a wannabe filmmaker who obsessively videotapes camp life. This mélange of styles may be intentional, but it fails to cohere into anything amusing or frightening.
Watch the trailer here:
