Dead of Summer

Not going to lie, but I really thought this was going to bomb. Not in reviews, but in execution. And it was surprisingly good--almost great. I watched both episodes 1 & 2, and trust me, it may have cliché' aesthetic but it puts a refreshing spin on it. It is comprised of a lot of 80s horror movie easter eggs so look out for those. It's good to see Zachary Gordon acting in something decent, and to see Tony Todd (for anyone born later in the 90s, a.k.a Candyman) on the small screen. The characters all have archetypes that we're familiar with, but with motivations the show has yet to dabble with. Not to mention I couldn't tell it was set in the 80s until I saw the ol' camcorder. So far I'm keeping this series on my recommend list. You want something dramatic, yet not overbearingly serious, (and you're not butthurt about "cliches") give this a shot.

Dead of Summer is based on a book and as many similar shows out there doesn't follow the book point by point, which is OK and not some horrific happening.

The screenplay is good, the cast is nice, the chicks are gorgeous and the acting well above average considering what they are doing and up to.

So, as one reviewer rightfully pointed out, all those who cannot sit for the entirety of episodes, let alone the series and have the mindless pretense to rate and review a show, better find themselves other hobbies.

This is a good series, lifting off weight from viewers' shoulders and allow them to pass some great moments.

As always, Elizabeth Lail rocks in her own very personal way.

I started watching this show before reading any reviews and I'm glad I did, because the reviews might have pushed me away, but I ended up loving the show! It's one of my favorites now.

First of all, what my summary says. After I finished watching, I figured out that it seems to be a mix of two of my favorite TV shows: Stranger Things and Scream. This is probably why I love this show. Plus, the producers also produced Once Upon a Time and Lost, both of which I enjoy/ed watching! If you like any of the above shows, I definitely recommend that you give Dead of Summer a chance!

Plus, there are so many plot twists along the way that it kept my interest. At first, the show might not seem as if it sticks out, but I recommend that you keep watching because it certainly made an impression on me. I also love the characters and the fact that we got to see their backgrounds and how their pasts effected them and shaped their personalities. There's character development, from the flashbacks to present time and how they react to things. They really stick to these personalities, too, and I love that. They're not all over the place and they don't suddenly just change. You at least see a build up. It's these reasons that I ended up loving Dead of Summer.

The plot is actually interesting. It was thrilling to watch in the beginning, however poor performance of the cast, improperly made 80s atmosphere and forced LGBT agenda made it boring in the end. But it's certainly worth watching if you want to relax.

OK, so it's not Scream the original movie. It's not smart or sophisticated and it's not a fresh and exciting new take on an old genre. But if you let go of all your preconceptions and expectations, it CAN BE something else. It can be a summertime guilty pleasure; and that's not at bad thing at all. Because it's actually pretty easy to be entertained by something you don't expect much from… and if you do that with this show, you give it the potential to deliver.

First, everybody has something to hide so by the end of episode 2 you know that much of what you've seen isn't what it appears to be. Sure, it's been done before but in some cases, and with these people, the humans are just as scary as the ghosts! If nothing else, trying to figure out who's going to mess with whom and why can actually end up fun. Or, put another way, let the backstabbing begin and just try to follow the knife!

So what if the history of the camp has been seen and done before in any number of ways. We haven't seen it done with Tony Todd, who floats through the show like an avatar of death and destruction without giving the viewer enough knowledge yet to be certain of why he does it or what it actually means. So, bad guy? Yes. In this context? No way to know yet.

And by the end of episode 2 it would also appear that filing this show away in a box marked "guilty pleasures 2016" might not be a half bad idea. So give it two episodes, get out your popcorn and surrender your disbelief, cynicism and critical analysis. Don't try to take it apart, take it for what it is and enjoy the ride. It's not brilliant, surreal or groundbreaking. But neither is a trip to the old state fair and we enjoy going to that every year in spite of it all!