Summer Scars
Encyclopedia
Summer Scars is a British feature film produced and directed by Julian Richards
in 2007 and is based on a hostage situation that Richards experienced during his childhood.
The cast includes Kevin Howarth
, Ciaran Joyce
, Amy Harvey, Darren Evans
, Jonathan Jones
, Chris Conway, Ryan Conway, and Chole Parfitt.
ding on a stolen moped changes the fate of their day. They crash into Peter, a dishevelled drifter, who is delighted to have a group of teens to hang out with. First he gains their trust by joining in their games but then his behaviour changes. Peter uses what he has learned about the kids against them, bullying the alpha boys, belittling the weaker ones and saving his worst for the only girl in the group. Realising too late they are being held hostage the kids are forced to embrace the dark side of human nature in order to survive the ordeal.
(ICA) in the season, New British Cinema.
on their Danger After Dark label.
In 2009 the film was released on DVD in the UK by Soda Pictures
.
Other DVD distributors include MIG Film GmbH (German speaking Europe), MCF Megacom (Former Yugoslavia), Wide Pictures (Spain), Sahamongkol Film International
(Thailand) and Viswas (India)
rating of 70%, with 7 fresh reviews, and 3 rotten reviews.
Summer Scars has been linked with other, roughly contemporaneous, films that deal with concerns over "Broken Britain
" and a fear of "hoodie
s," including Harry Brown
, Eden Lake
, The Disappeared
, Outlaw
, The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael
and Heartless
.
"This circumspect look at wayward British youth - a smart after-school special for the 21st century - feels like Mike Leigh's take on Stand By Me, harsh but sympathetic. Lean, mean, disturbing and deftly crafted, Summer Scars is definitely recommended" - Kurt Dahlke, DVD Talk.
"A Stand By Me/Eden Lake mash up. Prepare to squirm in your seat" - Josh Winning, Total Film.
"Builds up the tension and will leave you feeling more than a little unsettled" - Justin Bateman, Filmstar (magazine).
"Stand By Me meets Deliverance, this lean, British horror packs more suspense than most big budget thrillers". - Rob Daniel, Sky Movies
.
"A cautionary life lesson, Summer Scars has much to recommend". - Wally Hammond, Sight & Sound
.
"Unsettling, realistic terror flick that warns of the perils of talking to strangers" - Billy Chainsaw, Bizarre Magazine.
"Impressive acting and stealthy plotting" - The Independent
"Gets good enough playing from Howarth and the kids to make us regret the bloody denoument" - Derek Malcolm, The Evening Standard
"A smart psycho-thriller" - Jon Fortang, Channel Four Films.
"Creepy, atmospheric thriller that maintains tension throughout". - Matt Turner, View London
.
"A chilling allegory about the fragile innocence of youth with a climax as brutal as any Hollywood slasher" - Nikki Baughan, Little White Lies (magazine)
"A punchy thriller that clips along at a terrific pace, expertly building up suspense" - Anton Bitel, Eye For Film
.
"Taut, dark, edge of your seat menace with a pivotal performance from Kevin Howarth" - Matthew Arnoldi, The Skinny (magazine).
"A strikingly well-made thriller about teens being menaced by a stranger in the woods" - Rich Cline, Shadows On The Wall.
Julian Richards (director)
Julian Richards, is a British film director.- Early life :Julian Richards was born and raised in Newport, South Wales, where his father owned DIY retail store Handiland...
in 2007 and is based on a hostage situation that Richards experienced during his childhood.
The cast includes Kevin Howarth
Kevin Howarth
"Krazy" Kevin Howarth is a British radio disc jockey best known for his radio and television presenting in the Kingdom of Bahrain...
, Ciaran Joyce
Ciaran Joyce
Ciaran David P. Joyce in South Glamorgan Glamorganshire Wales - Cardiff is an actor and TV presenter of Irish descent, best known for playing 'Lol' in CBBC's The Story of Tracy Beaker. He attended the Cardiff schools, St...
, Amy Harvey, Darren Evans
Darren Evans
Darren Evans is an American football running back who is currently on the Indianapolis Colts active roster. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Virginia Tech....
, Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones may refer to:*Jonathan Jones , British journalist and art critic*Jonathan Jones , lead vocalist and keyboardist of We Shot the Moon*Jonathan A. Jones , British physicist...
, Chris Conway, Ryan Conway, and Chole Parfitt.
Plot synopsis
Six youths ditch school for the woods where some hot rodHot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
ding on a stolen moped changes the fate of their day. They crash into Peter, a dishevelled drifter, who is delighted to have a group of teens to hang out with. First he gains their trust by joining in their games but then his behaviour changes. Peter uses what he has learned about the kids against them, bullying the alpha boys, belittling the weaker ones and saving his worst for the only girl in the group. Realising too late they are being held hostage the kids are forced to embrace the dark side of human nature in order to survive the ordeal.
Theatrical release
In 2009 Summer Scars was released in UK cinemas by the Institute of Contemporary ArtsInstitute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
(ICA) in the season, New British Cinema.
DVD release
In 2008 Summer Scars was released on DVD in North America by TLA ReleasingTLA Releasing
TLA Releasing is a US film distribution company owned by TLA Entertainment Group. In March 2011, a new LLC was formed for the operation. Its primary output is LGBT-related films from all over the world under the "TLA Releasing" label, as well as horror films under the label "Danger After Dark"...
on their Danger After Dark label.
In 2009 the film was released on DVD in the UK by Soda Pictures
Soda Pictures
Soda Pictures is a UK based film distributor of art house, independent and world cinema. They have provided distribution for many award-winning films such as Frostbite , Into Great Silence & Old Joy.- Releases :...
.
Other DVD distributors include MIG Film GmbH (German speaking Europe), MCF Megacom (Former Yugoslavia), Wide Pictures (Spain), Sahamongkol Film International
Sahamongkol Film International
Sahamongkol Film International Co. Ltd. is a Thai motion picture production and distribution company. It is the leading movie company in Thailand, ahead of GMM Grammy's GMM Tai Hub, Five Star Production and...
(Thailand) and Viswas (India)
Festivals
- Festival of Fantastic Films (UK)Festival of Fantastic Films (UK)The Festival of Fantastic Films is an annual non-profit celebration of cinema fantastique, held annually in central Manchester, England. It was created by Tony Edwards and the late Harry Nadler , together with their fellow enthusiast Gil Lane-Young.Past...
, Sept 2007 - Oldenburg Film Festival, Germany Sept 2007
- Atlantic Film FestivalAtlantic Film FestivalThe Atlantic Film Festival is an international film festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Held annually, the ten-day celebration of film and video from Atlantic Canada and around the world is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the...
, Canada Sept 2007 - Austin Fantastic Fest, USA Sept 2007
- Raindance Film FestivalRaindance Film FestivalRaindance is an independent film festival and film school that operates from various cities including: London, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Budapest, Berlin and Brussels...
, UK Sept 2007 - Turks & Caicos Film Festival, Providenciales Oct 2007
- Eerie Horror Film Festival, USA Oct 2007
- Hollywood Film FestivalHollywood Film FestivalThe Hollywood Film Festival is an annual Film festival which is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Festival was established in 1997 by Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington....
, USA Oct 2007 - Dublin Horrorthon, Ireland Oct 2007
- Abertoir-Aberystwyth Horror Film Festival, Nov 2007
- Ravenna Nighmare Film Festival, Italy Nov 2007
- Auteur Film Festival, Belgrade, Serbia Nov 2007
- Corto Imola Film Festival, Italy, Dec 2007
- Bahamas International Film FestivalBahamas International Film FestivalBahamas International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in early December in the Bahamas, founded in 2004.The Bahamas International Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films...
, Nassau, Dec 2007 - Oxford Film Festival, USA, Feb 2008
- FantasportoFantasportoFantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from...
, Portugal March 2008 - Philadelphia Film FestivalPhiladelphia Film FestivalThe Philadelphia Film Festival is held annually in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Until 2009 it was generally held during the first weeks of April....
, USA April 2008 - Mauvais Genre Film Festival, France, April 2008
- WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, April 2008
- Swansea Life Film Festival, UK April 2008
- London Independent Film Festival, UK April 2008
- Malmo Film Festival, Sweden, March 2008
- Bradford Film Festival, March 2008
- Belfast Film FestivalBelfast Film FestivalFounded in 1995 by author Laurence McKeown, in its early stages of development the West Belfast Film Festival was part of Féile an Phobail. In its third and fourth year, it was autonomous and under the stewardship of Michele Devlin and Laurence McKeown, the Film Festival ran as a citywide event...
, Northern Ireland, April 2008 - Cine-Excess, London, May 2008
- Newport Beach Film FestivalNewport Beach Film FestivalThe Newport Beach Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Newport Beach, California, that showcases more than 350 films to more than 30,000 attendees annually....
, USA April 2008 - Santa Cruz Film Festival, USA May 2008
- Mid Ulster Film FestivalMid Ulster Film FestivalThe Mid Ulster Film Festival is an international film festival, established in 2004 by Mary Mullin and Roisin Nevin. Hugh Mullin and Geoffrey Sproule, film co-ordinator and technician joined in 2005....
, UK 2008 - Seattle True Indie Festival, USA June 2008
- RioFan, Brasil June 2008
- Zlin film festival, Czech Republic, June 2008
- Another Hole In The Head, San Francisco, June 2008
- Boston International Film FestivalBoston International Film FestivalThe Boston International Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Boston, Massachusetts which showcases over 90 films annually....
, June 2008 - Fantasmagoria, Swindon July 2008
- Galway festival, Ireland July 2008
- Fantasy Film Festival, Germany August 2008
- Sarajevo Film FestivalSarajevo Film FestivalThe Sarajevo Film Festival is the premier and largest film festival in the Balkans, and is one of the largest in Europe. It was founded in Sarajevo in 1995 during the siege of Sarajevo, and brings international and local celebrities to Sarajevo every year. It is held in August and showcases an...
, Bosnia, August 2008 - Chichester Film Festival, UK August 2008
- BUSTER, Copenhagen International Film Festival, Denmark Sept 2008
- Cambridge Film FestivalCambridge Film FestivalThe Cambridge Film Festival is one of the biggest film festivals in the UK. The festival historically took place during early July, but now takes place annually during September in Cambridge....
, September 2008 - Valencia Film Festival, Spain, October 2008
- Melbourne Underground Film Festival, Australia, October 2008
- Bragacine, Portugal, December 2008
- Canadian Film Festival, Vancouver, February 2009
- Porto Cine Film Festival, Portugal, April 2009
- Ourense Film Festival, Spain, October 2009
Critical reception
The critical response was largely favourable, with a Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
rating of 70%, with 7 fresh reviews, and 3 rotten reviews.
Summer Scars has been linked with other, roughly contemporaneous, films that deal with concerns over "Broken Britain
Broken Britain
Broken Britain is a term which has been used in The Sun newspaper, and by the Conservative Party to describe a perceived widespread state of social decay in Britain...
" and a fear of "hoodie
Hoodie
A hoodie is a sweatshirt with a hood. The characteristic design includes large frontal pockets, a hood, and a drawstring to adjust the hood opening. They are sometimes worn with sweatpants. Some hoodies have zippers on them to allow easy removal much like a jacket...
s," including Harry Brown
Harry Brown (film)
Harry Brown is a 2009 British action drama film directed by Daniel Barber and starring Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Jack O'Connell, and Liam Cunningham....
, Eden Lake
Eden Lake
Eden Lake is a 2008 British horror film, written and directed by James Watkins and starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender and Jack O'Connell.-Plot synopsis:...
, The Disappeared
The Disappeared (film)
The Disappeared is a British film directed by Johnny Kevorkian and starring Harry Treadaway, Greg Wise, Tom Felton, and Ros Leeming.-Plot:...
, Outlaw
Outlaw (2007 film)
Outlaw is a 2007 action-crime-drama film written and directed by British filmmaker Nick Love. Outlaw stars Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, Bob Hoskins, Lennie James, Rupert Friend and Sean Harris.The film is set in the United Kingdom in 2006...
, The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael
The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael
The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael is a British-made independent film directed by first-time director Thomas Clay, and released in 2006. It features Daniel Spencer in the title role, with Lesley Manville and Danny Dyer in support.-Plot:...
and Heartless
Heartless (2009 film)
Heartless is a 2009 British horror film directed by Philip Ridley and starring Jim Sturgess, Noel Clarke, Clémence Poésy and Eddie Marsan.-Plot:Jamie Morgan is a troubled photographer with a heart-shaped birthmark on his face...
.
"This circumspect look at wayward British youth - a smart after-school special for the 21st century - feels like Mike Leigh's take on Stand By Me, harsh but sympathetic. Lean, mean, disturbing and deftly crafted, Summer Scars is definitely recommended" - Kurt Dahlke, DVD Talk.
"A Stand By Me/Eden Lake mash up. Prepare to squirm in your seat" - Josh Winning, Total Film.
"Builds up the tension and will leave you feeling more than a little unsettled" - Justin Bateman, Filmstar (magazine).
"Stand By Me meets Deliverance, this lean, British horror packs more suspense than most big budget thrillers". - Rob Daniel, Sky Movies
Sky Movies
Sky Movies is the collective name for the premium subscription television movie channels operated by Sky Television, and later British Sky Broadcasting. It has around 5 million subscribers, via satellite, cable and IPTV in the UK and Ireland...
.
"A cautionary life lesson, Summer Scars has much to recommend". - Wally Hammond, Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound is a British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute .Sight & Sound was first published in 1932 and in 1934 management of the magazine was handed to the nascent BFI, which still publishes the magazine today...
.
"Unsettling, realistic terror flick that warns of the perils of talking to strangers" - Billy Chainsaw, Bizarre Magazine.
"Impressive acting and stealthy plotting" - The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
"Gets good enough playing from Howarth and the kids to make us regret the bloody denoument" - Derek Malcolm, The Evening Standard
"A smart psycho-thriller" - Jon Fortang, Channel Four Films.
"Creepy, atmospheric thriller that maintains tension throughout". - Matt Turner, View London
View London
View London, owned by the 2 View Group Ltd, is an online entertainment guide to London, UK covering restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs in London. It also has a "What's On" guide and reviews of current cinema releases by Matthew Turner, its resident film critic.The site allow users to post...
.
"A chilling allegory about the fragile innocence of youth with a climax as brutal as any Hollywood slasher" - Nikki Baughan, Little White Lies (magazine)
Little White Lies (magazine)
Little White Lies is a bi-monthly, British independent movie magazine that features writing, illustration and photography related to cinema.-History:...
"A punchy thriller that clips along at a terrific pace, expertly building up suspense" - Anton Bitel, Eye For Film
Eye For Film
Eye For Film is an online film magazine based in the United Kingdom. It launched in August 2006 and has been growing ever since. It is updated with new content on a daily basis.-Features:...
.
"Taut, dark, edge of your seat menace with a pivotal performance from Kevin Howarth" - Matthew Arnoldi, The Skinny (magazine).
"A strikingly well-made thriller about teens being menaced by a stranger in the woods" - Rich Cline, Shadows On The Wall.
Awards
- BAFTA CymruBAFTA CymruBAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
AWARD - Best Newcomer, 2008 - BAFTA CymruBAFTA CymruBAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
AWARD - Best Titles, 2008 - BAFTA CymruBAFTA CymruBAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
Nomination - Best Film 2008 - BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE – Santa Cruz Film Festival, USA, 2008
- BEST FOREIGN FEATURE – Canada Film Festival, Vancouver, 2009
- BEST DIRECTOR - London Independent Film Festival, UK, 2008
- SPECIAL JURY AWARD – Bragacine, Portugal, 2008
- BEST DIRECTOR - Bragacine, Portugal, 2008
- BRONZE REMI – Worldfest Houston, USA, 2008
- BEST ACTOR - Austin Fantastic Film Festival, USA, 2007
- BEST CHILD ACTING - Seattle True Indie Fest, USA, 2008