The Den Population 30
“Summer of Screams: 5 Horror Movies to Watch During Your Summer Heatwave”
Hey Survivor,
Welcome to the “Summer of Screams” (S.O.S. for short) and welcome back to The Den, or welcome for the first time! The Den is the safest place in this horror-filled apocalypse, where we discuss scary movies and books, debate the end of the world as we know it, and, most importantly, kill zombies. I’m doing my part!
This summer, I’m kicking off a little series called Summer of Screams, where I’ll share some of my favorite summer-set horror gems with you (and on social media). There’s just something about summer horror: the kids are out, it’s hot as hell, and there’s nothing to do except run from a masked killer who’s probably dressed as a clown and stalking your group of friends.
So, let’s get into it...
Jaws (1975)
Playing on AMC June 7th at 1:30 PM & 7 PM
It took me forever to finally watch Jaws. I think I saw it for the first time last summer. My wife is obsessed with sharks, so of course she loves Jaws, and now I can say I love the hell out of it too. After years of watching Shark Week, I’ve heard all about the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks that inspired the story—and it’s wild to think people used to believe sharks were harmless.
The most I knew before watching was the whole Lady in the Dunes theory—where author Joe Hill thought a murder victim might’ve been an extra in Jaws—but that’s a blog for another day.
Set on Amity Island, a fictional New England summer town, Jaws follows police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and salty sea captain Quint (Robert Shaw) as they try to hunt down a massive great white shark terrorizing beachgoers. Everyone with common sense wants to close the beaches, but the mayor, fearing a loss of summer tourist dollars, keeps them open. Because, you know, capitalism.
This movie is iconic. The tension is real. And it shows how quickly public safety is tossed aside when money is on the line. On the surface, it's man vs. beast, but under that? It's society vs. greed. (And spoiler: society never learns. Just look at Jaws 2.)
Fear Street Part Two: 1978 (2021)
Streaming on Netflix
After being extremely let down by Fear Street: The Prom Queen (no shade, just the truth), my wife and I decided to rewatch the original Fear Street trilogy, but Fear Street 1978 remains undefeated.
It nails the retro camp slasher vibe, terrible counselors, first loves, mean campers, and an impressive body count. I love how it pays homage to horror classics like Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, and even The Burning. Bring Camp Horror back; I’m here for it.
The movie begins with Deena (Kiana Madeira) and Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) arriving at the home of C. Berman (Gillian Jacobs) with a possessed Sam (Olivia Scott Welch) in the trunk. They beg Berman to help them, and we get a flashback to the 1978 Camp Nightwing massacre when camp counselor Tommy Slater (McCabe Slye) goes full slasher on a camp full of kids.
The best thing about this trilogy is how everything is interconnected. Multiple killers. Different timelines. A curse that spans centuries. It’s slick, creepy, and surprisingly emotional. You can watch part two by itself, but trust me, watch all three. It’s a bloody good ride.
BCALA Award-Winning Book, Camp Lanier, is Friday the 13th, meets Holes, with a dash of Kindred. When Taylor gets framed for shoplifting, she chooses a summer work release program over jail. But the camp? It's at Lake Lanier, Georgia, a real lake with a deadly history.
You ever hear that 20 people drown there every year? Yeah. Taylor might’ve been safer behind bars.
It’s What’s Inside (2024)
Streaming on Netflix
This movie was a wild ride! The concept is insane, in the best way, and I loved how it blended awkward humor and social tension with horror. But listen… if I had been invited to that party? I would’ve walked right out. Because my body is nobody’s body but mine.
It’s What’s Inside follows a struggling couple, Shelby and Cyrus (Brittany O’Grady and James Morosini), attending a pre-wedding reunion with old college friends. Among them is Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey), an influencer and Cyrus’ old crush. Just as things start to get less awkward, in walks Forbes (Reid Miller), the former friend no one expected, carrying a device that lets you swap bodies with someone else.
At first, it’s a party trick. Then people stop playing fair… and some like their new bodies a little too much. Things spiral fast, and the ending had me questioning everything I had just watched.
Summer of 84 (2018)
Available to Rent/Buy on Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube
This one’s for fans of Disturbia, The Black Phone, and The Goonies, with a much darker twist.
Summer of 84 follows Davey Armstrong (Graham Verchere), a conspiracy-obsessed teen who becomes convinced that his neighbor, Officer Wayne Mackey (Rich Sommer), is actually a serial killer. He enlists his crew to help uncover the truth, and what starts as a playful summer mystery turns into something way more sinister.
It’s got the ‘80s nostalgia, the friend group hijinks, and the paranoia of Rear Window. But that ending? Yeah… that ending messed me up. It's definitely a must-watch if you want to scream “WTF?!” into the night.
Cocaine Bear (2023)
Streaming on Hulu and Starz (via Prime)
I know this pick’s gonna make some folks roll their eyes (my wife included), but I love Cocaine Bear. I loved it the moment I heard the title. The trailer? Gold. The fact that it’s kinda based on a true story? Even better.
Back in 1985, a drug smuggler dropped bags of cocaine from a plane. A black bear in Tennessee found some, ate it, and died. The real bear was later dubbed “Pablo Eskobear.” Now, that bear didn’t go on a bloody rampage, but Hollywood asked, “What if it did?”
Directed by Elizabeth Banks, Cocaine Bear is exactly what it promises, a dark comedy creature feature where a bear gets high on cocaine and tears through a national park. There’s blood, chaos, drug dealers, park rangers, and a surprising story about family, survival, and... well, more cocaine.
If Jaws is a seafood thriller, Cocaine Bear is your backyard BBQ horror, over-the-top and hilarious.
That’s it for this week’s picks! I hope you found something here to scare the sunscreen off you. Let me know your favorite summer horror movies, hit me up on Instagram or TikTok, where I’ll be dropping more summer screams all season long.
As Always…Stay safe. Stay woke. Stay alive.
Until the next nightmare,
—Sylvester
Author of Camp Lanier and More.
