Prepare to relive your most terrifying teenage memories with The Summer We Died, the latest indie horror sensation from director Dillon Brown, known for his Bigfoot found footage hit Tahoe Joe series.
Combining the nostalgia of “Saved by the Bell” with the blood-curdling tension of classic 80s slashers, The Summer We Died is set to make its world premiere at the Skate or Die Film Fest this October. Produced by Horror Dadz Productions and Horror Nerd Productions, The Summer We Died plunges audiences into a chilling story of rebellion, skate culture, and revenge.
In a town gripped by fear after a series of brutal murders, a strict curfew is imposed, threatening to extinguish the last sparks of summer freedom for a group of restless teens. Refusing to let their summer die in the shadow of fear, three teen girls decide to defy the curfew, only to find themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the relentless “Moonlight Killer.” Dillon Brown, whose Tahoe Joe series garnered a cult following for its innovative use of found footage, shifts gears away from Bigfoot in The Summer We Died, offering a fresh yet nostalgic take on the slasher genre.
The film pays homage to the classic horror films of the 1980s while infusing it with the gritty edge of skate culture and the angst of teenage rebellion. “The idea was to create a film that feels both familiar and new, something that captures the essence of those 80s slasher flicks we all grew up with, but with a twist that speaks to today’s youth,” says Brown. “It’s a film about not letting fear dictate your life, even when that fear is very real and very close.” Brown also built and used practical gore effects throughout the film, wanting to showcase in-camera effects work to further push for a classic slasher feel.
With a soundtrack that echoes the raw energy of punk rock and skateboarding, and features live music from the band Acid Box, The Summer We Died is as much a celebration of subculture as it is a terrifying thrill ride. The film is already generating buzz in horror circles for its unique concept and fresh take on the genre, and with its world premiere at the Skate or Die Film Fest, it’s poised to become the next big indie horror hit.
Starring Hannah Welty, Mandy Morgan, Grace Winters, Michael Rock, Zoogie Austin, John Potash, Brian Lee, Annie Lain and Hector “Nomar” Mendoza.
The Summer We Died is currently seeking distribution.
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