kosmasp I could've also written "Down and dirty" as a headline, but I chose the nice try one. It is actually a really nice movie. It has dark drama and psychological subtext to it. Some very disturbing scenes and feels very "real".The actors enhance your impression of the rawness and the realness of the movie. Whethere you think that is a good thing or not, is entirely up to you. Which will also be leaning your likeness for or against the movie. That some sociological problems are brought up to, is another good point for the movie. Entertainment this ain't, especially because it's not afraid to pull punches ... Which is also it's downfall at any given moment. Still worth a look!

Anthony Pittore III (Shattered_Wake) When six high schoolers skip school to play in the woods, they come across a mysterious drifter named Peter (Kevin Howarth). At first, all goes smoothly as Peter joins in with the kids' games. Soon, however, he turns and begins to play with the kids in more twisted ways. As the day progresses, Peter starts playing his own games. . . until he goes too far. . .This really is a difficult film on which to comment. From one view, it seems that it's a very uneventful story about a crazy guy screwing with some kids. On the other hand, however, it's an interesting and chilling look into a madman toying dangerously with a group of adolescents in order to teach them a series of lessons. 'Summer Scars' will definitely the type of film that will evenly divide the viewing base between boredom and intrigue, but I'm definitely leaning towards the intrigue. When looking at the film from a technical point of view, it's very good. The script is fantastic, though, as I said, seemingly uneventful. The dialogue flows well and maintains a steady realism throughout, and the realism is enhanced by some good performances from the kids and a great performance from Kevin Howarth (from director Julian Richards's previous film The Last Horror Movie). The direction & cinematography utilize the forest setting well and, even when the group is just sitting around for a period of time, never rests with exploring the area visually. Adding to the atmosphere visually, the lack of a soundtrack really helps to keep things downbeat and believable (think No Country for Old Men). On a deeper level, the film attempts to play almost like a real-world fairy tale. . . do something wrong, reap the consequences, but still come out better (mentally) when it's all finished. In the end, 'Summer Scars' is not for those looking for a plot-driven film with any real amount of action. It's a character-driven thriller that toys with the minds of the youth (and the viewers) and focuses more on lessons of morality than violence and action. If that's what you want, give this one a look.Final Verdict: 7/10.-AP3-

movieman_kev A group of rebellious kids find themselves in over their heads when one of their gang accidentally hits a man with the bike they stole. The man, Peter (Kevin Howarth, The Last Horror Film, Razor Blade Smile) at first seeming friendly to the gang, has more sinister motivations.I found myself engaged with the film up to a point and Howarth brings a fairly good performance, but the kids, as hooligans, aren't really that likable (not to say that the situation they find themselves in isn't tense, it is) But that coupled with an ending that seemed rushed and a tad bit anti-climatic made the film seem less then the sum of it's parts. Sadly this one is a well-intentioned misfire.My Grade: C- DVD Extras: Director's commentary; A 30 minute Making-of feature; Stills gallery; Original trailer for this film; and trailers for "Dante's Inferno", "Hell's Ground", "Pistoleros", & "the Living and the Gead"

dschmeding The basic premise of a gang of teenagers acting tough and being confronted with real life violence that is the main outline for "Summer Scars" could be interesting for a psychological thriller. We had the subject in movies like Eden Lake where it got carried over the top or in Stuck with the gangsta who shits his pants when having to put his tough words to work. "Summer scars" rather starts out like a modern version of "stand by me" with a group of youngsters going to the woods to have fun with a stolen moped and some beers. The gang is introduced with 5 guys and a girl having some bullying issues, one guy having a crush on the girl and 2 brothers of which 1 is paralyzed and carried into the woods without his wheelchair. 2 of them drive through the woods and hit a guy with their moped who soon meets the gang and introduces himself as Peter. He isn't angry about the hit-and-round and tries to make friends with the group but after some mindless fun his face starts to change. From here on this could have worked out to be a psychological chiller since Peter is unpredictable and unstable. At first he shows the gang tricks, then he plays mind games trying to turn them on each other. But he obviously has issues himself, wears a pellet gun and talks about the army, gets headaches and soon threatens the gang. All this just turns out leading absolutely nowhere... the mind-games are half-hearted, we never get to know why Peter acts so strange and back stories like the 2 brothers and the story behind the 1 getting into the accident that paralyzed him are picked up and dropped while you expect it to be implemented in Peters mind games with the kids. And pretty much everything works out like that... it all just seems an incoherent mess that ends in a silly way like "stand by me". I couldn't pull any message or experience out of all this which leaves this as a real low budget movie shot one a cheap one location somewhere in the woods. I think the actors did a good job but I will have forgotten about all this within a week because the story is just way to tame and bouncing around from left to right with barely any real tension building after Peter turns out to be a little psycho.