| Summer Scars | |
|---|---|
Film Poster |
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| Directed by | Julian Richards |
| Produced by | Julian Richards |
| Written by | Julian Richards Al Wilson |
| Release date(s) | September 30, 2008 (DVD) |
| Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Summer Scars is a British feature film produced and directed by Julian Richards in 2007 and is based on a hostage situation that Richards experienced during his childhood.
The cast includes Kevin Howarth, Ciaran Joyce, Amy Harvey, Darren Evans, Jonathan Jones, Chris Conway, Ryan Conway, and Chole Parfitt.
Contents |
Six youths ditch school for the woods where some hot rodding on a stolen moped changes the fate of their day. They crash into Peter, a dishevelled drifter, who is delighted to have a group of teens to hang out with. First he gains their trust by joining in their games but then his behaviour changes. Peter uses what he has learned about the kids against them, bullying the alpha boys, belittling the weaker ones and saving his worst for the only girl in the group. Realising too late they are being held hostage the kids are forced to embrace the dark side of human nature in order to survive the ordeal.
In 2009 Summer Scars was released in UK cinemas by the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in the season, New British Cinema.
In 2008 Summer Scars was released on DVD in North America by TLA Releasing on their Danger After Dark label.
In 2009 the film was released on DVD in the UK by Soda Pictures.
Other DVD distributors include MIG Film GmbH (German speaking Europe), MCF Megacom (Former Yugoslavia), Wide Pictures (Spain), Sahamongkol Film International (Thailand) and Viswas (India)
The critical response was largely favourable, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 70%, with 7 fresh reviews, and 3 rotten reviews.[1]
Summer Scars has been linked with other, roughly contemporaneous, films that deal with concerns over "Broken Britain" and a fear of "hoodies," including Harry Brown, Eden Lake, The Disappeared, Outlaw, The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael and Heartless.[2]
"This circumspect look at wayward British youth - a smart after-school special for the 21st century - feels like Mike Leigh's take on Stand By Me, harsh but sympathetic. Lean, mean, disturbing and deftly crafted, Summer Scars is definitely recommended" - Kurt Dahlke, DVD Talk.
"A Stand By Me/Eden Lake mash up. Prepare to squirm in your seat" - Josh Winning, Total Film.
"Builds up the tension and will leave you feeling more than a little unsettled" - Justin Bateman, Filmstar (magazine).
"Stand By Me meets Deliverance, this lean, British horror packs more suspense than most big budget thrillers". - Rob Daniel, Sky Movies.
"A cautionary life lesson, Summer Scars has much to recommend". - Wally Hammond, Sight & Sound.
"Unsettling, realistic terror flick that warns of the perils of talking to strangers" - Billy Chainsaw, Bizarre Magazine.
"Impressive acting and stealthy plotting" - The Independent
"Gets good enough playing from Howarth and the kids to make us regret the bloody denoument" - Derek Malcolm, The Evening Standard
"A smart psycho-thriller" - Jon Fortang, Channel Four Films.
"Creepy, atmospheric thriller that maintains tension throughout". - Matt Turner, View London.
"A chilling allegory about the fragile innocence of youth with a climax as brutal as any Hollywood slasher" - Nikki Baughan, Little White Lies (magazine)
"A punchy thriller that clips along at a terrific pace, expertly building up suspense" - Anton Bitel, Eye For Film.
"Taut, dark, edge of your seat menace with a pivotal performance from Kevin Howarth" - Matthew Arnoldi, The Skinny (magazine).
"A strikingly well-made thriller about teens being menaced by a stranger in the woods" - Rich Cline, Shadows On The Wall.