Finn Wolfhard’s horror-comedy and directorial debut,Hell of a Summer, has landed a digital release date. Wolfhard is best known for playingMike Wheeler inStranger Things, but he’s also starred in the horror moviesItandItChapter Two,Ghostbusters: Afterlife,Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut,When You Finish Saving the World. Wolfhard made his own directorial debut, co-writing and helming the horror-comedyHell of a Summeralongside Billy Bryk, which follows a group of counselors at a summer camp who are terrorized by a mysterious masked killer.
Now, shortly after its theatrical release on April 4, Neon has announced thatHell of a Summerwill be available for digital purchase and rental at home beginning tomorrow, April 22. The movie will also be released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 8. All purchase formats will include special bonus features, including feature commentary with stars Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk, and Fred Hechinger, a blooper reel, a fireside chat, and much more.
Hell of a Summerwill likely become available for streaming on Hulu due to Neon’s exclusive deal with the streaming service.
What Hell Of A Summer’s Digital Release Means For The Movie
Can It Find A Larger Audience?
Hell of a Summerpremiered at the Toronto International Film Festival way back in September 2023, but struggled to secure theatrical distribution due to Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk’s young age and inexperience. It was eventually released in theaters by Neon earlier this April and, as expected,struggled to make much of an impression at the box office, overshadowed by the massive success ofA Minecraft Movie.Hell of a Summerjust managed to make back its small $3 million budget at the box office, grossing around $3.1 million.
Reviews recognize thatthe horror-comedy displays some promising creativityfrom Wolfhard and Bryk in their directorial debuts, though its inconsistent tone suggests there’s still some room for growth from the young directing team. Other critics were harsher, such asScreenRant’s Mary Kassel, who, in theirHell of a Summerreviewwrites, “Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk craft a missable addition to the slasher genre that relies on references and dated humor to make up for its hollow heart.” These mixed reviews account for its middling 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Our Take On Hell Of A Summer’s Digital Release
It Might Be Best To Wait Until It’s Streaming On Hulu
Despite its buzzy debut at TIFF and Finn Wolfhard’s familiarity among audiences,Hell of a Summerhasn’t been enough of a critical or commercial success to truly stand out in the crowded home media market. Its small budget, modest box office returns, and lukewarm reception place it firmly in the niche category, appealing to only the most diehard fans of the creators or the genre. For everyone else, it might be best to wait untilHell of a Summeris streaming on Huluto see what the summer camp slasher has to offer.
