Slasher Summer sets up for the season

Happy Summerween! To my fellow horror enthusiasts who celebrate, I hope you enjoy this annual holiday that combines a warm, beach day with those long awaited spooky vibes.

To those who are not familiar with the holiday, June 22 is Summerween, originating from an episode of Disney’s “Gravity Falls” (2012). The main characters in their small town go trick-or-treating only to find the summer night full of more tricks than treats, in true fashion of the supernatural children’s show (and one of my favorite cartoon series).

Since then, horror fans who suffer from Halloween withdrawals have clung to the holiday to get their spooky fix in the middle of the year.

I am one of those said horror fans. There comes a certain point in summer where I long for Halloween and everything that comes with it.

I started referring to this point as “Slasher Summer.” Now, I offer this guide on how to have a bone-chilling, ultra-fun, spooky Slasher Summer.

The best way to get into the spooky vibe? Music, duh! I created a playlist on Apple Music called “Summer Slashers🔪🩸.”

The playlist is mostly curated of 80’s pop rock, because what else feels like a slaying (haha, get it?), low-budget slasher film? This playlist should immediately make you feel like you are the main character caught in their sleepwear having to outrun the bloody villain.

The goal of this playlist was to channel the same vibe as iconic slasher films like “Sleepaway Camp” (1973), “Friday the 13th” (1980) and “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997).

Notice a pattern, here? These iconic movies of the genre take place in summer, adding a bloody twist to the most carefree, fun time of year. A playlist can do just that. Feel free to use my playlist as inspiration while building one of your own, or you can fully steal it. I give you permission, fellow horror (or soon-to-be-converted) enthusiast.

Yet another easy, but efficient way to get into the slasher mood, nothing beats watching horror movies after spending my day tanning and swimming under the hot sun.

I’ve curated a brief list of movies below that pass the Slasher Summer vibe check:

• “The Lost Boys” (1987)
• “Phantom of the Paradise” (1974)
• “Sssssss” (1973)
• “Gargoyles” (1972)
• “Jaws” (1975)

While any horror movie can set the spooky mood, these particular movies were low-budget successes, either in the box office or in the long run by becoming a cult classic. The five I mentioned are hall-of-famers in my household.

Los Angeles is full of horror fans, which makes it the ultimate hot spot for Slasher Summer. The city puts on various events, such as flea markets, movies at the park and more, that cater to horror fans.

I personally love visiting the Sugarmynt Gallery in Pasadena, which is located next to the Myers House from “Halloween” (1978). This quaint little museum rotates through various exhibits throughout the year, all tied into the horror genre.

From June 26 to August 23, the gallery is hosting Beware of the Pink Palace Part 2, a showcase inspired by “Coraline” (2009). Tickets are available at a daily price of $15, no reservation required, with hours varying. I’m already marking my calendar as I am writing this. See you guys there!

This is pulled straight out “The Lost Boys” (1987), which adds a vampiric twist to the Peter Pan fairytale. The whole concept of never growing old gets a dark makeover in this film and I absolutely love it. It takes place in the fictional Santa Carla, but was filmed in the real Santa Cruz, Calif. Most of the film is set on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk; a pier full of lively carnival fun such as rollercoasters, games and food vendors. Jordan Peele’s “Us” (2019) was also filmed in Santa Cruz, even giving a shoutout to the filming of “The Lost Boys” in the opening sequence.

There is nothing more Summerween than a beach boardwalk. While Santa Cruz is not local for most SoCal residents, it could be worth a weekend getaway. Otherwise, the Santa Monica Pier is another worthy location.

If a pier or boardwalk is not your cup of tea, a fair will do just the trick. The Orange County Fair will run July 17 to August 16 in Costa Mesa. Visiting at night feels like you have entered an 80s slasher film, which is the exact point of Slasher Summer.

I hope this guide has converted you into a Slasher Summer lover. If it has not, tick off some of the boxes from this list, anyway. You might surprise yourself with how much you end up enjoying celebrating Summerween.

And if not, be careful, because the Summerween Trickster will come to get you! If you missed that reference, go back and watch Episode 12 of the first season of “Gravity Falls” (2012).

Taylor Moore can be reached at bytaylormoore@gmail.com .