Summer of 84

Summer Of '84 never really gives us a reason why these kids should be friends, and although we spent most of the film watching them hang out, the direction is too stiff to call it a proper hangout movie.

A modest little suspense puzzle that simulates rather than builds on vastly better 'my neighbor may be a murderer' stories from Rear Window to Stranger Things.

Once Summer of '84 kicks in, it kicks hard, and in its darkest moments, I was hoping the filmmakers had sprung on us a dream-sequence fake-out, perhaps in honor of Brian De Palma.

Mystery-wise, the film teases viewers pretty effectively, with plenty of jolts that suggest the boys are on the right track balanced by other signs they're making something out of nothing.

You'll have to really miss the mid-'80s to make it through [Summer of '84].

"Summer of '84" is only cute and competent enough to be diverting; it's neither funny nor scary enough to leave a lasting impression.

More subdued than it's predecessor, Summer of '84 is still a love letter to a near forgotten time in cinema. Sit back, relax and let yourself be whisked back to the simpler time of 1984.

Delivers a sense of nostalgia as it spins a tale that mixes equal parts comedy and real-world horror. A small film like this is such an artistic pleasure and a refreshing relief from the empty-headed, big-budget fare.

Summer of '84 proves to be a worthy addition to the movement, with both a knack for the old familiar steps, and the ability to hit some brand new creepy beats.

Clunkiness aside, Summer of 84 is a satisfyingly suspenseful adventure, with compelling characters, and a chilling murder mystery at its center.

Yes, it's derivative, but in a mostly well-constructed, engaging and highly creative way.

Overflowing with nostalgic visual treats yet falling short in terms of narrative substance, this coming-of-age saga falls apart in the final act.