Most of us experience summer camp at least once in our lives. It can be a time of fun and exploration, and a time to escape our regular lives. Some people love it so much they never want to leave. But what happens if things go wrong?

That’s the case with Hell of a Summer, which comes from Finn Wolfhard and Billy Byrk, who co-wrote, co-directed, and co-star in the film. It follows a group of counselors arriving for a summer of fun but finding terror and death instead.

We first meet Jason (Fred Hechinger), who is a 24-year-old man. But he had so much fun at camp he’s returning as a counselor for the sixth time. His mom wants him to press forward into his real life, but he’s not ready to give up Camp Pineway yet. In fact, it feels more like home to him than anywhere else.

That’s odd considering most of the counselors don’t think much of him. Still, as they start to arrive, Jason takes the lead and gets them settled in. Oddly, the Camp’s owners aren’t present. They’ve left a note, so Jason takes it upon himself to make sure everyone is having a good time. They make it through an afternoon of fun and dinner.

But, after the bonfire, when one of the counselors turns up dead, Jason fears the worst. When more disappear, it’s clear something has gone terribly wrong. The hunt for a killer begins and the group has to figure out a way to survive the night.

We’ve seen horror films set at camp before. In fact, naming the lead character Jason feels a bit on-the-nose for this type of story. But this is a film that liberally borrows from others in the slasher genre, blending them up and putting them back together in a newish way. It’s also a film that’s aimed at the modern moment with its references and its characters, one of whom appears to be a Social Media influencer.

There are some fun sequences and some decent kills. We have some funny characters and moments, leading to a killer reveal that felt both surprising and a little underwhelming. In fact, that’s on brand for this film. It’s a blend of some clever ideas and moments with story elements that feel overly familiar.

Wolfhard and Byrk have some fun bits in the script, and give themselves some fun roles, too. The overall arc of the film works well enough, and the kills are sufficient to breathe life into this kind of film. At just 88 minutes, it moves at a good clip and is entertaining enough to be a fun ride for those looking for a good slasher.

Hell of a Summer is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.