Cruel Summer

This unsettling drama follows a group of teens as they pursue a young boy with autism camping in the woods. More than any jump scares or acts of violence, the terror of this British-made thriller is in its plausible foundations; the villains are not mindless monsters, although their childish motives drive them to commit monstrous acts. While it may be disturbing, the story is never played out for sensationalism - the co-writer/director team of Phillip Escott and Craig Newman demonstrating a delicate touch to turn a potentially unpleasant film into something more thought-provoking. All the cast shine, particularly Danny Miller as chief antagonist Nicholas, who brings a murky rationale to the group's indefensible actions. A horror movie with something to say, Cruel Summer lives up to its name and stays with you by giving bleak substance to a dark story.