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In the summer of 1984, Davey Armstrong and his friends become increasingly suspicious of their neighborhood's police officer, believing he may be hiding a dangerous secret. Driven by paranoia and fueled by their fascination with conspiracies, the teenagers embark on a thrilling investigation to uncover the truth. Their quest leads them down a dark and twisting path, threatening to expose unsettling truths and disrupt the seemingly peaceful atmosphere of their small town.

In the summer of 1984, Davey Armstrong and his friends become increasingly suspicious of their neighborhood's police officer, believing he may be hiding a dangerous secret. Driven by paranoia and fueled by their fascination with conspiracies, the teenagers embark on a thrilling investigation to uncover the truth. Their quest leads them down a dark and twisting path, threatening to expose unsettling truths and disrupt the seemingly peaceful atmosphere of their small town.

Does Summer of 84 have end credit scenes?

No!

Summer of 84 does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Summer of 84

Explore the complete cast of Summer of 84, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Summer of 84

See how Summer of 84 is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Summer of 84 stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

60

The film elicits a nostalgic mood but suffers from uneven execution. In terms of overall impression, the production design and musical score successfully transport audiences to a convincing 1980s setting, and the closing act delivers an engaging payoff. However, inconsistent pacing and underdeveloped character arcs undermine narrative momentum, leading to predictable stretches. While intermittent thrills and authentic atmosphere stand out, the film remains an uneven experience.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for Summer of 84

75
Echo Score

Art & Craft

The film demonstrates a solid visual style and production design. In terms of cinematography, the film uses carefully framed nostalgic sequences and credible 1980s set dressing to reinforce its period setting. The editing provides measured tension during key scenes. Overall, these elements yield an effective retro aesthetic.

50
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

Character & Emotion emerge as weaker elements in the film’s execution. In terms of acting, performances often feel underdeveloped and lack genuine chemistry between protagonists. The character arcs receive limited depth, resulting in one-dimensional portrayals. Despite occasional moments of rapport, the emotional resonance remains constrained throughout. Overall, character engagement falls short of the film’s other strengths.

50
Echo Score

Story & Flow

Story & Flow offer intermittent engagement with uneven momentum. In terms of plot coherence, the middle act drifts into predictable territory, and many twists follow familiar patterns. The pacing builds effectively toward the finale’s tense payoff but struggles to maintain interest in earlier sequences. Although the ending delivers a satisfying closure, the overall narrative flow feels marked by inconsistency and lack of originality.

65
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

Sensory Experience excels in its nostalgic atmosphere and heightened tension. When it comes to soundtrack, the synthwave score consistently amplifies suspense and evokes an authentic 1980s mood. The sound design and jump scares contribute to several effective moments, though some viewers find these elements insufficiently impactful. In terms of visual style, the film embraces an understated color palette that reinforces the period setting. Overall, the sensory package remains a strong asset.

60
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

Rewatch Factor registers as moderate due to a memorable finale and evocative nostalgia. In terms of enjoyment on subsequent viewings, the strong auditory and visual callbacks to 1980s culture may reward repeat audiences. However, the narrative’s predictability and uneven pacing reduce incentives to revisit. The film’s occasional highlights can spark renewed interest, yet overall, its lasting appeal is limited by its familiar structure.

Metacritic

57

Metascore

6.5

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

70%

TOMATOMETER

review

68%

User Score

IMDb

6.7 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

69

%

User Score

Letterboxd

3.2

From 297 fan ratings

Movie Insider

4.50/5

From 2 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate Summer of 84 Movie Quiz

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Summer of 84 Quiz: Test your knowledge about the chilling events of 'Summer of 84' and its intriguing characters.

What year does the story of 'Summer of 84' take place?

Awards & Nominations for Summer of 84

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Discover all the awards and nominations received by Summer of 84, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how Summer of 84 and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


45th Saturn Awards 2019

Nomination

Best Independent Film Release

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Summer of 84

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Read the complete plot summary of Summer of 84, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In the summer of 1984, the tranquil seaside town of Cape May, Oregon finds itself under the shadow of terror, haunted by the ominous figure of the “Cape May Slayer.” This notorious serial killer has been the cause of 13 teenage boys disappearing over the past decade, instilling fear in the hearts of the residents.

Fifteen-year-old Davey Armstrong, portrayed by Graham Verchere, is the son of an investigative journalist who unveils this chilling story. Convinced that his neighbor, Wayne Mackey, played by Rich Sommer, a well-regarded police officer from their neighboring town of Ipswich, is the very slayer they fear, Davey embarks on a venture to uncover the truth. However, his close friends—Dale “Woody” Woodworth (Caleb Emery), Curtis Farraday (Cory Grüter-Andrew), and Tommy “Eats” Eaton (Judah Lewis)—are initially skeptical of his claims, dismissing them as mere theories stemming from Davey’s fascination with conspiracy and urban legends.

Things take a dramatic turn when an acquaintance of Davey inexplicably appears on a milk carton days later after he was seen within Mackey’s home. This event convinces his friends to join him in a daring investigation. The boys start monitoring Mackey’s routine, uncovering numerous suspicious behaviors, such as Mackey’s frequent purchases of gardening tools and bags of soil, as well as his odd late-night jogs. During one of their stakeouts, disguised as a game of manhunt, Davey gets caught by Mackey while trying to plant a walkie-talkie near his window, which raises alarms over their safety.

As their pursuit of the truth deepens, Woody and Farraday stumble upon a second car and sodium hydroxide canisters in a self-storage unit tied to Mackey. Meanwhile, Davey and Eats discover a bloodied shirt belonging to the missing boy, hidden in Mackey’s garden shed. Terrified yet determined, they take their findings to Davey’s parents, but their excitement quickly turns to despair as they are met with outrage and accusations of vandalism. Consequently, Mr. Armstrong brings the boys to Mackey’s house to apologize. Mackey, claiming innocence and citing the boy seen in his home as his nephew, brushes off the incident while Davey faces grounding as punishment.

The intrigue intensifies when Davey sneaks out to meet Nikki Kaszuba, his crush played by Tiera Skovbye, who urges him to abandon his investigation. The next day, Mackey’s visit to Davey’s home with an attempted phone call to prove his nephew’s existence backfires, awakening Davey’s suspicions again as he uncovers the call was made to Mackey’s own house.

Meanwhile, just as a suspect is apprehended in the Cape May Slayer case—Mackey himself being the arresting officer—Davey sets plans in motion to infiltrate Mackey’s house during the 1984 Cape May Festival. As Farraday scouts the festival, he discovers that the bags of soil were intended for a community beautification project, leading him and Eats to withdraw their support. Undeterred, Davey, Woody, and Nikki venture into Mackey’s home with Mr. Armstrong’s video camera, ultimately gaining access to a locked room in the basement. Here, they are delivered chilling horror when they discover the missing boy’s desiccated corpse in a bathtub, alongside a recently abducted victim, confirming that Mackey is indeed the notorious Cape May Slayer.

In a desperate turn of events, they present the heart-stopping footage to the Ipswich Police Department, prompting an APB on Mackey. That night, Mackey captures both Davey and Woody, leaving them abandoned in his cruiser on a distant island and announces his chilling intention: they are to play a deadly game of manhunt. As the boys flee into the wilderness, they stumble across a corpse dump leading to a frantic chase by Mackey. In a moment of bravery, Davey distracts Mackey, allowing Woody a chance to escape, but Mackey catches him and brutally cuts his throat.

Cornered by the maniac, Davey finds himself at the mercy of Mackey, who surprisingly opts not to kill him, leaving him alive to suffer the torment of constant paranoia—waiting for Mackey’s inevitable return.

After being rescued and returning to a semblance of normalcy, Davey retraces his paperboy route, passing haunting reminders of the horror—the abandoned home of a missing boy, the trashed house of Eats due to family strife, and Mackey’s now-infamous residence cordoned off with police tape. The eerie notion that the Cape May Slayer remains at large haunts him as he unfurls a newspaper, reading of the continual threat lingering ominously over their town.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Summer of 84

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Summer of 84. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Summer of '84 | OFFICIAL TRAILER

Summer of '84 - Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Exclusive

Cars Featured in Summer of 84

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Explore all cars featured in Summer of 84, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Buick

1988

Electra Estate Wagon

Chevrolet

1978

Camaro

Chevrolet

1987

Caprice

Chevrolet

1985

Chevy Van

Chevrolet

1981

Impala

Chevrolet

1978

Malibu

Chevrolet

1981

Malibu

Dodge

1986

Ram Van

Ford

1978

F-Series

Ford

1979

LTD Country Squire

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


retro horrorfriendship between teensmurderteenagersuburbiagroup of friendsfriendship1980steenage boyyear 198415 year old boyfriendship between boysboyindependent investigationteen horrorfollowing someonebasementlocal policemanmurder suspectkiller copteenage crushmurder mysteryevil manevil winshouse arrestsuspicionhorninessneighbor neighbor relationshiporegonbare chested malepolicemanmissing personfriendteen crushprivate investigationsuspicious neighborabductiongroundedneighborhoodevidencenerdy boyaccusationdisbeliefsuspectvideo evidencepoliceman as antagonistunited states of americaamerican cityserial killerretro

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