The 13th Summer – Movie Review
Director: Tam Sainsbury
Writer: Jeremy Stanford (Screenplay)
Cast
- Nathan Phillips (Snakes on a Plane)
- Hannah Levien (A Body to Die For)
- Georgie Parker (A Country Practice)
- Ben Turland (Neighbours)
- Bec Hewitt (Home and Away)
- Jeremy Stanford (Relic)
Plot: During their annual vacation at an isolated beach, Ben and Vee unexpectedly encounter a mysterious backpacker who draws them into a twisted web of lies, deceit and ultimately, revenge.
Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The 13th Summer starts when Vee (Levien) and Ben (Phillips) look to escape the limelight and spend a vacation at a summer beach house. However, an unexpected guest Alex (Turland) arrives and questions about his appearance begin.
Ben isn’t sure how to deal with Alex and his connections can’t find any information on him. He thinks something is suspicious but can’t find the information he needs as Alex continues to get under his skin.
Verdict on The 13th Summer
The 13th Summer is a thriller following a couple trying to escape the public limelight after an incident. They head to a remote beach house, only to discover they have another guest who has mutual friends. However, it becomes awkward when the two men clash.
This movie dives into strangers’ meetings and an unfair reputation haunting people. It creates tension between everyone and causes a larger problem when things escalate. The problem here is how the movie doesn’t seem to create enough motivation behind everything. There is a big mention of an incident and focuses more on the trial by media than the actual case. The time spent together leads to an unhealthy divide, instead of a welcoming get-together.
Where to Watch
The 13th Summer gets UK digital debut on 9 September courtesy of Reel 2 Reel Films
Final Thoughts – The 13th Summer struggles to explore the larger issues.