REVIEW: Dead Of Summer Might Be A Little Too Dead For Audiences

Freeform’s newest series, Dead Of Summer, tells the tale of a summer camp haunted by demonic spirits. Created by the minds behind Once Upon A Time, Elizabeth Lail is the show’s leading lady, Amy, who is literally being haunted by the mistakes of her past. Amy is the newest camp counselor and finds it difficult to fit in with the cliquey camp counselors. Fans soon learn something horrific is terrorizing Camp Stillwater and that not everyone is who they say they are.

As a season premiere, it’s lacking in detail which is usually a good thing. However, the few details provided might not be juicy enough to warrant a second episode. The secondary characters get lost in the constant bouncing between the present deadly events and flashbacks filled with mistakes. Fans are introduced to the very stereotypical counselors. The overly sexualized “it” girl, played by Paulina Singer is accounted for, as is the moody outcast, played by Zelda Williams. And the “adult” characters range from the eerily creepy, but charming head of the camp, played wonderfully by Elizabeth Mitchell, to the young, eye candy cop, played by Alberto Frezza.

This show has the potential to be a decent addition to the Freeform lineup. It’s a cheesy horror show at best with creepy ghost children, questionable characters, and the potential for quite the ghost story. However, as fans of Once Upon A Time know, the creators have a tendency to overflow episodes with flashbacks and include a little plot in the present that leads to a very rushed season ending. With that being said, this show may honestly be something to add to the binge watch schedule instead of tuning in every week.

Grade: C+