Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
06-28-16, 06:45 AM
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER KICKS OFF IN THE SERIES PREMIERE OF 'DEAD OF SUMMER' ON JUNE 28
Seven camp counselors plan for the best summer of their lives, but the evil lurking at Camp Stillwater has other plans in store for them in the series premiere of "Dead of Summer," airing TUESDAY, JUNE 28 (9:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on Freeform.
Set in the late 1980s, school is out for the summer, and a sun-drenched season of firsts beckons the counselors at Camp Stillwater, a seemingly idyllic Midwestern summer camp, including first loves, first kisses - and first kills. Stillwater's dark, ancient mythology awakens, and what was supposed to be a summer of fun soon turns into one of unforgettable scares and evil at every turn.
In the premiere episode, "Patience," Camp Stillwater is about to reopen after being closed down for years. Deb (Elizabeth Mitchell), the new owner, has thrown her heart, soul and life savings into renovating the camp she loved as a child. She isn't the only one excited to return as six former campers - Alex (Ronen Rubinstein), Jessie (Paulina Singer), Cricket (Amber Coney), Joel (Eli Goree), Blair (Mark Indelicato) and Blotter (Zachary Gordon) - join her as counselors hoping to experience the freedom that camp brings now that they are older. Not part of the old crew, Amy (Elizabeth Lail) is not just new to Camp Stillwater, but to camp in general. While Amy tries her best to fit in with the already tight group, Drew (Zelda Williams) is content to be left alone. As everyone settles in and prepares for the campers' arrival, Amy is the first to get a feeling that something is not right with this idyllic summer camp.
The series stars Elizabeth Mitchell ("Lost," "The Purge: Election Year") as Deborah "Deb" Carpenter, Elizabeth Lail ("Once Upon a Time") as Amy Hughes, Zelda Williams ("Teen Wolf") as Drew Reeves, Mark Indelicato ("Ugly Betty") as Blair Ramos, Alberto Frezza ("Charlie's Angels") as Deputy Garrett Sykes, Eli Goree ("The 100") as Joel Goodson, Ronen Rubinstein ("Orange Is the New Black") as Alex Powell, Amber Coney ("Class") as Carolina "Cricket" Diaz and Paulina Singer ("Gotham") as Jessie Tyler.
"Dead of Summer" is produced by ABC Signature Studios and Kitsis/Horowitz. Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis ("Once Upon a Time," "Lost") and Ian Goldberg ("Once Upon a Time," "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior") write and executive-produce the series. Steve Pearlman ("Once Upon a Time") serves as executive producer. "Patience" is written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz & Ian Goldberg and directed by Adam Horowitz.
Seven camp counselors plan for the best summer of their lives, but the evil lurking at Camp Stillwater has other plans in store for them in the series premiere of "Dead of Summer," airing TUESDAY, JUNE 28 (9:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on Freeform.
Set in the late 1980s, school is out for the summer, and a sun-drenched season of firsts beckons the counselors at Camp Stillwater, a seemingly idyllic Midwestern summer camp, including first loves, first kisses - and first kills. Stillwater's dark, ancient mythology awakens, and what was supposed to be a summer of fun soon turns into one of unforgettable scares and evil at every turn.
In the premiere episode, "Patience," Camp Stillwater is about to reopen after being closed down for years. Deb (Elizabeth Mitchell), the new owner, has thrown her heart, soul and life savings into renovating the camp she loved as a child. She isn't the only one excited to return as six former campers - Alex (Ronen Rubinstein), Jessie (Paulina Singer), Cricket (Amber Coney), Joel (Eli Goree), Blair (Mark Indelicato) and Blotter (Zachary Gordon) - join her as counselors hoping to experience the freedom that camp brings now that they are older. Not part of the old crew, Amy (Elizabeth Lail) is not just new to Camp Stillwater, but to camp in general. While Amy tries her best to fit in with the already tight group, Drew (Zelda Williams) is content to be left alone. As everyone settles in and prepares for the campers' arrival, Amy is the first to get a feeling that something is not right with this idyllic summer camp.
The series stars Elizabeth Mitchell ("Lost," "The Purge: Election Year") as Deborah "Deb" Carpenter, Elizabeth Lail ("Once Upon a Time") as Amy Hughes, Zelda Williams ("Teen Wolf") as Drew Reeves, Mark Indelicato ("Ugly Betty") as Blair Ramos, Alberto Frezza ("Charlie's Angels") as Deputy Garrett Sykes, Eli Goree ("The 100") as Joel Goodson, Ronen Rubinstein ("Orange Is the New Black") as Alex Powell, Amber Coney ("Class") as Carolina "Cricket" Diaz and Paulina Singer ("Gotham") as Jessie Tyler.
"Dead of Summer" is produced by ABC Signature Studios and Kitsis/Horowitz. Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis ("Once Upon a Time," "Lost") and Ian Goldberg ("Once Upon a Time," "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior") write and executive-produce the series. Steve Pearlman ("Once Upon a Time") serves as executive producer. "Patience" is written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz & Ian Goldberg and directed by Adam Horowitz.
06-28-16, 09:24 AM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
I'm a sucker for these sorts of shows, so I'm in.
My only problem based on the promo is they're setting it in 1989, yet nothing about it feels right for that year. I was in high school that year and remember what teenagers wore... they're not even trying here. This looks I'm also worried after reading the show is filled with "fun ’80s pop-culture references". I really hope they don't go attention-drawingly obnoxious with this like it's The Wedding Singer or something.
My only problem based on the promo is they're setting it in 1989, yet nothing about it feels right for that year. I was in high school that year and remember what teenagers wore... they're not even trying here. This looks I'm also worried after reading the show is filled with "fun ’80s pop-culture references". I really hope they don't go attention-drawingly obnoxious with this like it's The Wedding Singer or something.
06-30-16, 12:57 AM
#4
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
Pilot was mediocre. I like the 80s timeline though.
Hated the fake scares (the mouse, people stepping out of the shadows). There were too many fake scary moments. If you're going to label yourself as a horror tv series, stop messing around and get to the good stuff. Another example of something like this is that remake movie, When a Stranger Calls. Ridiculous amount of fake scary moments (i.e.: cat jumping from the shadows).
I'll give this show another episode to see how I like it.
Hated the fake scares (the mouse, people stepping out of the shadows). There were too many fake scary moments. If you're going to label yourself as a horror tv series, stop messing around and get to the good stuff. Another example of something like this is that remake movie, When a Stranger Calls. Ridiculous amount of fake scary moments (i.e.: cat jumping from the shadows).
I'll give this show another episode to see how I like it.
06-30-16, 08:47 AM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
One and done for me. I am not a fan of the horror genre and I found the attempt to make this a 1989 show laughable. It was like they weren't even trying.
06-30-16, 10:23 AM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
Mixed on this one. On the plus side, I loved the synth score for this. I also felt the horror elements were effectively done. I like the mystery with Elizabeth Mitchell's character, especially since it's against type to have creepy things coming from a character like that. I also like that they gave us a 'Crazy Ralph' type character, even if it was brief.
On the negative side, the high school flashback scenes really took me out of the vibe of the episode and I don't know if they really added anything of value to that character. Instead it just felt like padding.
Also, while I appreciate their efforts to present a diverse cast... some of the nods to modern demographics feel a bit unlikely for the era. Considering how difficult it is for trans teens even today, I'm having a hard time believing a teen going through that in 1989 would subject themselves to an intimate, privacy-deprived setting like a summer camp.
It definitely felt like they held back a lot on the styles/lingo so the characters didn't seem too dated (i.e. dorky), maybe to make sure they would still be sexy or relatable to millennial viewers... I don't know. There was the one girl in the Kelly Kapowski getup, and the gay guy's Cure shirt was a good choice, but otherwise I didn't get that 'feel'.
On one hand I'm glad they didn't go ridiculous with it like some 80s shows do and have everyone wearing over-the-top 80s pop culture inspired garb, but this was so muted I honestly would have never guessed it was supposed to be set in the 80s. In the very least there should have been a few bad hairdos in that group!
And don't get me started on the camcorder that guy was using... a small camcorder like that with the flip out LCD screen, in 1989?
http://www.steves-digicams.com/knowl...mcorder.html#b
On the negative side, the high school flashback scenes really took me out of the vibe of the episode and I don't know if they really added anything of value to that character. Instead it just felt like padding.
Also, while I appreciate their efforts to present a diverse cast... some of the nods to modern demographics feel a bit unlikely for the era. Considering how difficult it is for trans teens even today, I'm having a hard time believing a teen going through that in 1989 would subject themselves to an intimate, privacy-deprived setting like a summer camp.
On one hand I'm glad they didn't go ridiculous with it like some 80s shows do and have everyone wearing over-the-top 80s pop culture inspired garb, but this was so muted I honestly would have never guessed it was supposed to be set in the 80s. In the very least there should have been a few bad hairdos in that group!
And don't get me started on the camcorder that guy was using... a small camcorder like that with the flip out LCD screen, in 1989?
In 1992, Sharp Electronics was the first company to introduce LCD screen on camcorders. Prior to this the only way to see the image you were recording was through the eye piece of the view finder.
06-30-16, 11:12 AM
#8
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
Perhaps the "trans" teen is a reference to the cult '80s Slasher Film "Sleepaway Camp", where a key character is not what they appear.
Last edited by DWilson; 06-30-16 at 11:17 AM.
06-30-16, 01:47 PM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
I'm only watching for Elizabeth Mitchell. The horror was too low key for a pilot and there is no way a college kid in 1989 would be walking around filming everybody with a camcorder.
06-30-16, 02:25 PM
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
It seemed like the costume designer just went to Hot Topic to buy some new "vintage-looking" 1980s shirt without really any nuance to the era.
06-30-16, 05:00 PM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
See, I thought the Cure t-shirt was a bad choice because they used some brand-new looking Pornography album cover one. That album was released in 1982 and I don't think they even toured the US for that album so that would have been a hard shirt to find then. Would have been better if they had used a Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me or Disintegration album t-shirt.
It seemed like the costume designer just went to Hot Topic to buy some new "vintage-looking" 1980s shirt without really any nuance to the era.
It seemed like the costume designer just went to Hot Topic to buy some new "vintage-looking" 1980s shirt without really any nuance to the era.
06-30-16, 09:58 PM
#12
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
I was mixed on this one. Another Elizabeth Mitchell fan here and I like the horror genre, but this pilot wasn't great. I'll keep tuning to see if it improves.
06-30-16, 10:41 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
I haven't watched this yet, was kinda hoping it'd be kind of Final Girls-ish (loved that movie) seems it went a little more standard fare, albeit not particularly well yet.
07-01-16, 12:56 AM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
If we are being nitpicky about wardrobe, I am fairly positive that all-black White Sox cap worn by camcorder guy wasn't introduced until the early 90s. I'm also not sure what kind of message they are trying to send with it, considering it was popular at that time with urban gangs.
07-01-16, 08:08 PM
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
If we are being nitpicky about wardrobe, I am fairly positive that all-black White Sox cap worn by camcorder guy wasn't introduced until the early 90s. I'm also not sure what kind of message they are trying to send with it, considering it was popular at that time with urban gangs.
I had the same thought about the White Sox logo. Apparently it was introduced in 1991
http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/lis...ago_White_Sox/
07-06-16, 12:13 PM
#17
Moderator
Thread Starter
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
I fell asleep during last night's episode. I was really looking forward to this show, but it isn't what I thought it would be. Nothing about it feels like the '80s.
07-14-16, 12:46 AM
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
Eye candy at the end ...
I was not aware that the girl playing the transgender (Zelda Williams) is Robin Williams daughter.
I was not aware that the girl playing the transgender (Zelda Williams) is Robin Williams daughter.
07-17-16, 04:13 PM
#19
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
I'm not sure what this show is about, but I'm still interested and will keep watching.
And Cricket wasn't fat, she's just a little thick
haha
And Cricket wasn't fat, she's just a little thick
haha
08-24-16, 09:10 PM
#20
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
So anyone still in this? I'm caught up and it's kinda fun. Latest episode was a good one. Gore and a twist I didnt see coming. Looking forward to the last episode and I'd be in for a second season but have the feeling we wont.
08-25-16, 10:19 AM
#21
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
I'm still watching, but a bit behind (have made it through Ep. 6). Bummed by the ending of Ep. 5.
09-07-16, 03:22 PM
#22
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Dead of Summer (Freeform) -- horror show from producers of Lost and OUAT
Spoiler Alert for those who are not caught up:
This was definitely a guilty pleasure show for me.
Spoiler:
This was definitely a guilty pleasure show for me.
