Review of The Kings of Summer (2013) by Kevin M — 27 Jul 2017

Kings Of The Summer may carry an indie vibe, but from the quality of the film is what you would expect out of something higher budget. All three protagonists, especially Arias as the wacky Biaggio are very good, and its what makes this movie. The story is fairly standard coming-of-age; two teens find themselves sick of their lives at home under the annoyances of parenthood, and run into the woods to live off the land. Throw in an unwanted outcast stowaway in the diminutive Biaggio and you have a squad.

The film is excellently paced; and the quiet "indie" moments are done very well. You get the sense that something is happening even while everyone is silent, looking at each other, with no music in the background. Better yet, YOU KNOW what is happening, what each kid is thinking.

Kings Of Summer isn't sappy at all, nor is it depressing or go-lucky. Its a very honest, plausible movie that doesn't aim higher than it can reach, and that makes it a minority in the genre. Finally, we have an indie-teen drama that doesn't reach for an audience by employing the same pretentious cliches that its peers did.