Stranger Things has been a pop-culture phenomenon for nine years, even though the show only filmed five seasons. I was late catching that runaway train of ’80s references because I haven’t been a regular Netflix subscriber until recently, but I did really enjoy its first season (many years ago). A lot. Back then, I had assumed that each of the starring kids would eventually become big movie stars.

Now that the hit show has finally wrapped as its lead actors have now officially reached this country’s legal drinking age, I’ve finally gotten around to catching up on Season 2. And looking back, it feels like Finn Wolfhard was by far the show’s biggest (and only?) winner. After appearing in IT: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Frozen Empire, Saturday Night and voice acting (in King of the Hill, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and The Addams Family), the actor-turned-filmmaker turned to short films, music videos (even directing one by George Harrison) and now feature films.

Released last year, Hell of a Summer represents Wolfhard’s extended collaboration with Billy Bryk, in which the pair include writing, directing and producing duties with the addition of acting responsibilities in the movie. Talk about your multi-hyphenate filmmakers. And at such a young age, too!

I’m guessing the urge to bring Hell of a Summer to the big screen might have somehow been influenced by Stranger Things, as the setting for both feels incredibly nostalgic to this Child of the ’80s. As a horror comedy, HoaS is a throwback slasher that follows 11 young counselors at a summer camp. As the junior counselors prepare their roles at Camp Pineway, they slowly disappear as a mysterious masked killer leaves its mark on the group.

“A bad day at Pineway is a better than a good day anywhere else.”

Hormones are flowing. They’re awkward teens who are scared and insecure. Quick to jump to conclusions, they’re also way too interested in a killer popularity contest. Most of these characters represent big-screen stereotypes, which means many of them are insufferable, but their deaths are well earned!

And none of the young actors truly give award-winning performances, but they are enjoyable, for the most part.

HoaS lightly touches upon false accusations and the ills of groupthink, but it’s mostly a movie full of retro vibes that offers a nostalgic look at life before becoming an adult. With a masked killer. And possibly a copycat. It can be brutal. The price of fame feels a little too expensive for some, while others will go to no end in order to receive it.

At times, Summer feels a little too similar to the more-popular Scream franchise, but there are nostalgic connections to others, as well, including Friday the 13th. It’s not a bad first feature scratch for both Bryk and Wolfhard, but they should itch for future improvements. And originality.

Now that Stranger Things has finally wrapped and Wolfhard prepares to appear on Saturday Night Live, as well as other future projects, it’s good to see the makings of a young filmmaker who shouldn’t rest on his laurels while his star is still rising. Overall, it was slightly strange, but distributor Neon definitely made 2025 one Hell of a Summer for Wolfhard.

“A bad day at Pineway is a better than a good day anywhere else.”