Except for a horrific ending, we can’t classify Last Summer (1969) as a classic “horror” film. However, it elicits the feeling of nostalgia that accompanies many of the movies we discuss. Plus, if you’ve ever been the victim of psychological bullying, you know it’s a form of horror, especially if it goes as far as to erupt in violence.
At a time when the X-rating was applied to some mainstream (and critically acclaimed) movies, Last Summer was released by Allied Artists Pictures in 1969 with an X. Later edited to an R, and even more heavily for television, the film sort of faded into obscurity. In 2001, though, a 16mm print was found in Australia, and a long process of restoration began…
…culminating in a recent release on Blu-ray from Warner Archive. It seems an odd history of a film that was well received by critics and earned Catherine Burns an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Nevertheless, it’s available now in pristine condition for audiences to discover all over again.
Burns plays Rhoda, a shy, homely young woman who insinuates herself into a tight-knit trio of friends on Fire Island during summer break. She doesn’t belong yet wants to be one of the popular kids. The thing is, Peter (Richard Thomas), Dan (Bruce Davison), and Sandy (Barbara Hershey) have only recently met, and they’re still figuring out their relationship.
It’s complicated. Hormones are raging as Sandy teases, and Peter and Dan are unsure how to react. For me, the intriguing part is that I don’t know how much alike these characters really are, or if the guys just want to lose their virginity. Plus, there are strong hints that they discover whatever it is they’re seeking as a threesome.
Rhoda, then, is an obstacle; there’s no room for a fourth person. However, her relationship with her new “friends” alternates among innocent teasing, genuine inclusion, and outright cruelty. “Coming of age” films can focus on specific aspects of growing up but Last Summer touches a little bit of all of them, making its meaning complex.
This becomes evident when Peter seems to develop a conscience and is kind to Rhoda, teaching her how to swim and sharing a kiss now and then. We’re left to decide if he’s the good guy, or if it’s another level of emotional torture. Ultimately, he must choose between her and his two friends. We witness his decision but still don’t know his rationale.
There may be no rationale, though. There’s the internal battle of peer pressure we may all have experienced at one time or another in our lives. We may recall a time we felt compelled to do something we knew wasn’t right. Here’s the nostalgia I mentioned, but there’s probably a better word for it. There’s nothing fond about such memories.
Knowing that, Last Summer may not be your cup of tea. I found it compelling from start to finish, always wondering what choices the characters would make, or it there would be no conscious decisions leading to their actions. It made me uncomfortable most of the time, and I didn’t feel good afterwards, but… I’m glad I watched it.
You can also watch it on one of these streaming services:
Leave a Reply