Based on the Evan Hunter novel of the same name, director Frank Perry’s Last Summer is a brutal teen drama about the toll exacted when people give in to their base desires. It’s a captivating character study that brings to mind Lord of the Flies, although the final scene is a very tough watch.
Buy Last Summer from Movie ZyngOne summer on Fire Island, New York, Peter (Richard Thomas) and Dan (Bruce Davison) meet Sandy (Barbara Hershey) and help rescue an injured seagull. The movie is a relic of a different time as the teens are detached from their parents, left on their own for the most part, spending their days and nights doing whatever they wish, echoing their parents’ behavior. For example, Sandy’s parents are divorced, her mother sneaks back to town to have affairs, and a male friend of her mother’s made a sexual advance towards Sandy. Dan walked in on his mom cheating. Peter’s parents are on the verge of divorce.
They are three attractive people. Bronzed from the sun, frequently wearing very little on the sunny beach. Their youthful explorations reveal what the world has to offer. They drink beer. Smoke a joint. The boys suggest Sandy take her wet top off, which she teasingly obliges, before they go for a swim. Peter is conflicted about his attraction to Sandy. While attending a movie, both the boys sneak their hands under Sandy’s clothes, which she enjoys. After the movie, three creeps with ill intent chase after them. Luckily, they escape on ferry. Sandy shows disturbing behavior, but they ignore it, hoping to score with her.
One day at the beach, they meet Rhoda (Catherine Burns) whose family is vacationing from Ohio. She tries to stop them from playing with the seagull. The trio are rude towards her, especially Sandy. Later, they offer to teach her to swim after learning her mother is dead. She is scared but goes along with it to be part of the group. Peter helps her the most and a connection grows between them when they are alone.
As a prank, Sandy and Peter make up a phony dating profile and get a response. Not wanting to follow through, Sandy and the boys pressure Rhoda into going on a date with Anibel (Ernesto Gonzalez). To keep an eye on her, they all go out and keep ordering Anibel drinks, getting him drunk. When they leave, that trio of creeps reappears. They attack Anibel, and the kids run off.
They pressure Rhoda into getting a bikini, drinking beer with them, and revealing her secrets. It gets uglier from there in a wooded, secluded area. The scene is shocking yet true to the characters, similar to their treatment who are all changed forever due to an incident that ends all their childhoods.
The 4K scan was made from best-available elements. The original negative from the first four reels was used and the remainder was taken from two different interpositives and an internegative. The video has been given a 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC encoded transfer displayed at the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The sun-kissed bodies look natural as do other colors. Film grain is apparent and there’s an intentional softness to the focus, reflecting the haze of memory. The audio is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Dialogue is clear. Composer John Simon and the diegetic rock music have good fidelity. The track sounds free from hiss and signs of wear or age.
The Special Features are:
- Audio Commentary – Screenwriter Larry Karaszewski and film historian/author Justin Bozung, cover a wide range of topics, from production stories to the TV cut andrare screeings of the film.
- Deleted Scene (4 min) – A scene between Peter and Peter’s father (Ralph Waite).
- Q&A #1 (30 min) – Recorded live on March 29, 2026 for the American Cinematheque after the premiere of Last Summer‘s new restoration, Karaszewski interviews Hershey and Davison.
- Q&A #2 (34 min) – Recorded live on May 3, 2026 at New York’s Paris Theater, Karaszewski interviews Richard Thomas.
- Allied Artists Promo Reel (3 min)
- Trailers From Hell (2:34) – Karaszewski provides commentary for the film’s trailer.
Last Summer is a hard movie to recommend because of what takes place, but it is well made and there’s an undeniable authenticity to the story and its characters. Fans of the movie will appreciate its Blu-ray debut, which delivers a quality high-definition presentation and wonderful special features about its making.
