Summer is still three months away, but the best summers are the ones you plan early. While most people are thinking about tropical vacations and poolside drinks, some of us are craving neon-lit horror vibes, eerie sunsets, and a summer that feels straight out of a retro slasher flick. If you live for Halloween but don’t want to wait until October, it’s time to embrace Summerween—where the best parts of summer meet the eerie, nostalgic world of cult horror films and Stranger Things-style adventure.
If you’re obsessed with Jawbreaker, Lisa Frankenstein, Totally Killer, and Bride of Chucky, this is your guide to planning the ultimate spooky summer experience. From lake trips that feel like a lost scene from Friday the 13th to bike rides at sunset and bonfires that could double as a final girl’s escape
Chapter One: The Setting—Creating the Ultimate Slasher Movie Atmosphere
Every great horror movie starts with the perfect setting—a place that seems normal by day but feels just a little too quiet once the sun goes down. Whether you’re heading deep into the woods, finding an eerie roadside stop, or setting up the ultimate horror marathon, your surroundings will make or break your Summerween experience.
Nothing sets the tone like a night in a spooky summer cabin or camping in the woods. If you can book a rustic, slightly rundown cabin (bonus points if it has a weird history attached to it), you’re already halfway into final girl territory. Bring old lanterns, plaid blankets, and a portable speaker for a midnight horror-movie marathon under the stars. If a cabin isn’t an option, setting up a tent in the backyard—as long as it’s dark enough to make you question every small noise—works just as well.
Of course, no slasher-inspired summer is complete without a bonfire night straight out of a horror film. Gather your besties, light up the fire, and swap urban legends like you’re part of an old VHS tape someone finds years later. Take Polaroid photos that look like missing persons posters, blast a playlist that makes you feel like you’re being watched, and stage a photoshoot running through the trees, just for the aesthetic.
For the perfect small-town horror nostalgia, hit up an old-school video store and pick out a stack of slasher flicks. If your town still has a dusty, neon-lit rental shop, step inside like it’s 1987 and you’re about to make the worst decision of your life (in the best way). Grab the ones with campy cover art, ridiculous taglines, and a slightly worn VHS tape inside. Then, head back to your cabin or tent, turn off all the lights, and press play.
Chapter Two: Living Out Your Own Horror Movie
Now that you have the setting, it’s time to become the main character. Summerween isn’t just about watching horror—it’s about feeling like you’re inside one, making every night feel like a lost scene from a cult classic.
First up? A trip to the fair or carnival at night, because nothing says Summerween like the eerie glow of spinning Ferris wheels and half-working neon signs. Fairs are already creepy if you look at them the right way—the strange music, the flickering lights, the old funhouse mirrors reflecting something that looks a little too much like you but… not quite. Go late, wear something impractical for running, and take disposable camera shots that feel like they belong in an old horror movie trailer.
If you’re feeling extra bold, take a bike ride at sunset like you’re in Stranger Things, blasting eerie synth music as you pedal through quiet streets, long backroads, or an empty field. There’s something about biking in fading daylight that feels like you’re being chased by something unseen—whether it’s your own imagination or something a little more sinister.
And then there’s the classic lake scene—because what’s a horror movie without one? Ditch the pool for a haunted summer camp aesthetic, heading to a misty lake in the early morning or right at sunset, when the water glows gold and you can almost hear the whisper of an old legend in the breeze. You’re not afraid, though… right?
Chapter Three: The Finale
A slasher flick is only as good as its final moments—the eerie calm after the chaos, the feeling that maybe the nightmare isn’t quite over yet. Your Summerween needs an epilogue, the kind of experience that leaves you feeling like you just survived something legendary.
Fireworks are pure Summerween energy, instead of watching them from the usual crowded spot, find a quiet, unexpected location—maybe a hill overlooking the city, an empty parking lot, or a dock by the lake. Something about the eerie glow of fireworks against the night sky feels like a horror movie moment waiting to happen.
Then, there’s the ice cream at dawn moment—one of the most underrated horror movie endings. Stay up all night watching movies, take a long drive down empty roads, and stop at a late-night diner or ice cream shop just before the sun rises. There’s something about being half-awake, still in last night’s outfit, eating ice cream in the eerie early-morning light that feels like you survived something. Maybe you did.
Finally, close out the summer with a slow, eerie walk through the woods or an open field at dusk. There’s something surreal about being alone in nature when everything is just a little too still. The sound of your footsteps, the wind through the trees, the feeling of being watched—but by what? Take a camera, capture the grainy, liminal energy of the moment, and let the last bit of summer fade into legend.
Because every good horror movie ends with one final scene—something unsettling, something unanswered, something that makes you wonder if the story is really over.
The Summerween Playlist: Eerie Beats for Hot Nights
No horror-inspired summer is complete without the right soundtrack. Your Summerween playlist should feel like a teen thriller set at a neon-lit roller rink, blending 80s synth, classic horror vibes, and Y2K bangers that scream slasher movie. Throw in songs like “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, and “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads for that eerie energy. Mix in some Kate Bush, Cyndi Lauper, and New Order to channel Stranger Things nostalgia, and top it off with Y2K anthems like “Celebrity Skin” by Hole and “Just a Girl” by No Doubt for the ultimate final girl soundtrack.
The Ultimate Summerween Horror Watchlist
No Summerween is complete without the right movie lineup. Since it’s still summer, you want horror that feels fun, nostalgic, and a little ridiculous—not straight-up terrifying. Campy slasher films, retro horror, and anything with a summer setting will instantly set the vibe.
For the perfect dose of dark glamour, Jawbreaker, Lisa Frankenstein, Bride of Chucky, and Totally Killer should be at the top of your list. If you’re leaning into summer-themed horror, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Friday the 13th are must-watches. For that eerie, small-town Stranger Things aesthetic, go for A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Lost Boys, and It. Whether you’re watching solo or with friends, these films will have you fully immersed in that perfect mix of spooky and summery nostalgia.
Make This Summer a Spooky One
Why settle for a basic summer when you can create a cinematic, eerie, nostalgia-filled experience that feels straight out of a horror movie? Summerween is all about blending beauty with mystery, fun with fear, and adventure with a little bit of the unknown. Whether you’re sitting by a bonfire with a horror movie glow, swimming in a lake that feels eerily still, or watching fireworks with a slight sense of unease, this is the summer to romanticize the eerie side of warm nights and golden sunsets.
Until next time, the best-kept secrets are the ones that refuse to die.