Final Summer review

Striking the right balance can be tricky in a low budget slasher.

How far do you lean into nostalgia whilst trying to tread your own path?

Final Summer, directed by John Isberg, just about gets away with being a summer camp slasher that lands on the right side of entertaining.

While its opening feels slightly rushed it doesn’t mess about getting to the killing and like many slashers that start fast it does have a lull before a satisfying finale.

Clearly, Isberg is glad to have some recognisable faces to call on for Final Summer, with appearances from Thom Matthew and Tom Atkins.

The mystery of the killer is largely non-existent here as some characters who conveniently disappear for large portions end up holding the blade rather than being chased by it. On the flip side, the killer does have a great look with a pullover skull mask to disguise their identity, which looks extra creepy in some sequences.

Filming wise it does suffer from way too many aerial drone shots which may have been to pad out the runtime slightly.

Conclusively, Final Summer is a competent slasher which works as a standalone feature that doesn’t require further entries.