Finn Wolfhard's Directorial Debut 'Hell of a Summer' Drops Trailer
27 January 2025

Finn Wolfhard's Directorial Debut 'Hell of a Summer' Drops Trailer

The first trailer for "Hell of a Summer" has arrived, marking an exciting directorial debut from Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, who co-directs alongside Billy Bryk. This horror-comedy represents a bold new chapter for the young actor-turned-filmmaker, blending classic slasher elements with contemporary humor.

A Fresh Twist on Summer Camp Horror

The film follows Jason Hochberg (Fred Hechinger), a 24-year-old camp counselor who arrives at Camp Pineway concerned primarily about the generation gap between himself and his younger co-workers. However, Jason and his fellow counselors are unaware that their pre-season preparations will soon be interrupted by a masked killer lurking in the campgrounds, forcing them to face terrifying events as the summer season approaches.


Rising Stars Behind and In Front of the Camera

The ensemble cast features an impressive lineup of emerging talent, including:

Fred Hechinger (Gladiator II, Fear Street)

Finn Wolfhard (IT)

Billy Bryk (Ghostbusters: Afterlife)

Abby Quinn (Mad About You)

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs)

Pardis Saremi

Adam Pally

Festival Success and Critical Reception

Making its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival, "Hell of a Summer" has been praised as a modern homage to 1980s summer camp horror classics. Meagan Navarro, reviewing for Bloody Disgusting, highlighted the film's unique approach, noting its perspective as a friendship comedy aimed at younger audiences. The reviewer particularly praised how the directors' acting backgrounds contributed to assembling a cast delivering vibrant, entertaining performances.

A Continuing Creative Partnership

Wolfhard and Bryk's collaboration extends beyond this project, with the duo previously sharing the screen in "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" (2021) and Jesse Eisenberg's satirical drama "When You Finish Saving the World" (2022). Their creative partnership began with Bryk starring in Wolfhard's 2020 short crime comedy "Night Shifts."


Looking Ahead

The pair's future looks promising, with Sony Pictures already announcing their involvement in a remake of the teen horror-comedy "Idle Hands." Jason Reitman, co-writer of "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," will produce the project and has praised their directorial debut, stating, "Finn and Billy did an incredible job with their first directing venture."

Release Information

NEON will distribute "Hell of a Summer" with a theatrical release date set for April 18, 2025. International release dates are yet to be announced. Meanwhile, fans can also look forward to seeing Wolfhard's final appearance as Mike Wheeler in the concluding season of "Stranger Things" in 2025.