Earlier this year, I was given the chance to take a look at the dark and troubling thriller CRUEL SUMMER, the directorial debut of Phillip Escott and Craig Newman. Impressed by the film, I gave it an 8/10 review – and I'm very proud that a quote from my review will be featured on the DVD cover when Matchbox Films releases CRUEL SUMMER in the UK on February 6, 2017.
The movie will also be available on VOD in the UK as of that date.
Inspired by disturbing true events, Escott and Newman told the following story:
Danny (Richard Pawulski), a teenager with autism, escapes the inner city for the beautiful countryside as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Little does he know, that bitter Nicholas (Danny Miller from Emmerdale Farm) is hunting him, stemming from a lie created by the enamoured and envious Julia (Natalie Martins) and Calvin (Reece Douglas). As the three close in on Danny, Nicholas' behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and violent, and Julia and Calvin must decide whether to go through with Nicholas' deadly plan.
As I said in my review, CRUEL SUMMER is a film that "will get under your skin and hurt you, and when the chance arises I highly recommend that you let it do so." I'm glad to hear that it has landed distribution in the UK and that viewers there will be getting their chance to get shaken by it in February. Here's hoping it will be making its way out in other territories soon after.
If you'd like to pre-order the UK DVD release, you can do so on Amazon.