Final Summer

2/22/2024

**_Good production values; dreadfully dull storytelling_** On the final night of their employment in the sticks of Illinois, several camp counselors are assaulted by a masked man with an axe. "Final Summer" (2023) is a proficiently-made Indie slasher in the tradition of the first two “Friday the 13th” flicks from over four decades earlier. The sylvan cinematography is great, there’s an effective air of creepiness with a full moon and fog, plus the diverse actors are convincing. Unfortunately, the director/writer failed in one of the most important areas—an interesting or, at least, entertaining script. It doesn’t help that the females are subpar (and I’m not talkin’ ’bout nudity or sleaze). It’s like he said, “Beautiful women? We don’t need no stinkin’ beautiful women.” I can ac