It was the summer of 84, "I got my first real six string..." actually come to think of it I think it might have been 1989. Regardless, as you may of guessed this is a film set in the 1980s. I will admit that I am a fan of movies from the 70s and 80s, or movies that are set in those times. So when I spotted this movie it was an easy decision to watch it and I can confirm that it was an entertaining movie also.
The Summer of 84 will of course draw comparisons with Stranger Things, but really the only similarities are in the era it is set and that the plot revolves around four teenage boys. A much more accurate comparison would be with The Burbs but Summer of 84 is no comedy, although that is not to say that the movie is devoid of humour. The unofficial leader of the boys is Davey, who is seemingly obsessed with conspiracy theories. After a spate of teenage boys disappearances the story of the Cape May serial killer goes public. Davey is comvinved that a popular local man, a police officer by the name of Mr Mackey is the killer. The movie,then revolves around the attempts of the four teenage boys to gather evidence of his guilt.
The movie is technically excellent, it has good cinematography, and the acting is of a good standard. The teenage boys all give good performances and looked just like typical boys as opposed to some pretty Hollywood child star. The dialogue is believable, they are just average boys doing what boys did back in the 80s. The movie is never boring and the plot kept my attention right until the end. The ending itself I did not see coming. By the end you will, if you think like me, be fully invested in the four teenagers.
The Summer of 84 is a sweet movie, but it nevers gets to sickly sweet or sentimental. It captures the time it was set in, with references to movies from the 80s & arrcade machines. At one stage Davey pulls put an encyclopedia and it brought back memories for me of the time before the internet. For those of us old enough to remember the 80s it will be a sentimental journey, but also one that should be very entertaining for all regardless of age.
7 out of 10
Summary: an entertaining film that whilst sentimental is never sickly sweet.