Directed by:
Elijah BynumScreenplay:
Elijah BynumCinematography:
Javier JuliáComposer:
Will BatesCast:
Timothée Chalamet, Maika Monroe, Alex Roe, William Fichtner, Thomas Jane, Emory Cohen, Maia Mitchell, Jack Kesy, Lia McHugh, Catherine Dyer, Rebecca Koon (more)Plots(1)
American flags wave as fireworks light the sky, it's 1991 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and summer is in full swing. A lonely teenage boy is taken under the wing of the town rebel, falls in love with the prettiest girl in town, and gets entangled in a drug ring, all as the deadliest hurricane in New England history barrels towards the coast. This coming of age film marks the feature debut of writer/director Elijah Bynum. (South by Southwest Film Festival)
(more)Reviews (2)
Something about the interplay of this film’s characters was grating. Mainly, it lacked a perceptible friendship between the boys, which was supposed to be its foundation. Anyone can fall in love with a girl, but that doesn’t make him a morally good character that viewers will care about. And the cool editing and references to ’80s blockbusters don’t add dramatic depth to the film, but only make it more stylish. The focus on the two romantic storylines, which sidleine the gangsters and drugs, is excessive and superficial. Functionally blending a crime drama with romance requires extra effort (Baby Driver, True Romance). But I wasn’t bored by Hot Summer Nights. Maika Monroe from It Follows is nice to look at and the actors were generally well cast.
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A very enjoyable feel good retro drama about an introvert who befriends the biggest dude in school and they start dealing weed. The shy boy gradually becomes a different person who wants more money, starts dating the hottest chick in town and gains confidence, but it's a business where happiness blooms only for a short while. Great choice of actors, a solid Thomas Jane as the sheriff, cool jokes and allusions to other movies, a nice retro atmosphere and a fateful finale. Huge surprise. 80%.
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