Remember the eerie, hand-drawn horror posters of the 80s? The ones that made your skin crawl just by looking at them? Hell of a Summer, the directorial debut of Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard and Ghostbusters: Afterlife actor Billy Bryk, is bringing that nostalgic terror back. The newly unveiled poster is a deliberate throwback to the 1981 slasher Happy Birthday to Me, and it's already stirring up excitement—and a few chills—among horror fans.
The Film: A Gen Z Slasher with a Twist
Wolfhard and Bryk aren't just playing directors—they're also starring in this horror-comedy, which follows a group of camp counselors hunted by a masked killer the night before campers arrive. The official synopsis teases a self-aware twist on classic slasher tropes, with Variety noting the filmmakers aimed to “upend Gen Z stereotypes.”
The cast includes:
- Fred Hechinger (Fear Street) as Jason Hochberg
- D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs)
- Abby Quinn (Mad About You)
- Pardis Saremi (Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem)
Filmed in Ontario and backed by NEON (the studio behind Parasite and Titane), Hell of a Summer is set for a theatrical release on April 4th.
The Poster: A Love Letter to 80s Horror
The new poster, revealed by Bloody Disgusting, mirrors the iconic Happy Birthday to Me artwork—a bold choice that signals Wolfhard and Bryk's reverence for the genre. But will the film itself deliver the same punch as its inspiration?
Early reactions are mixed. JoBlo's Chris Bumbray gave it a 5/10 at TIFF, calling it “fun but forgettable.” Still, with NEON's backing and Wolfhard's built-in fanbase, this could be a sleeper hit.
Hell of a Summer is clearly a passion project—one that wears its influences proudly. The retro poster is a smart move, tapping into the current wave of 80s horror nostalgia (Stranger Things, It, The Black Phone). But will it stand out in a crowded field?
Wolfhard and Bryk have ambition, and the cast is solid. Yet, early reviews suggest it might lean too heavily on homage rather than innovation. Still, for slasher fans, this could be a bloody good time.
“Does the retro poster hype you up, or are you skeptical about another 80s throwback? Let us know in the comments!”
