Spike Lee’s ‘SUMMER OF SAM’ (1999) – 25th Anniversary Retro Review

Growing up, I got sick a lot. My parents just went off to work, and I would watch Summer of Sam all day. I feel familiar with it, so we are doing a 25th Anniversary review. Unfortunately, this movie fell off many RADARs, even though it made a lot of revenue, was nominated for six awards, and had an all-star cast. It’s close to an amped-up Goodfellas, but that’s not bad either.

Let’s review a big staple of our lives.

Synopsis

A small Bronx Italian neighborhood feels the wrath of Son of Sam while David Berkowitz is on a muderous spree, and also a blackout in the city. The gang starts to lose their minds as they blame each other and treat everyone like a suspect. Vinny (John Leguizamo, Land Of The Dead 2005) and Richie (Adrien Brody: The Pianist, 2002) are complete oppsites. One likes disco, the other found his heart in punk rock.

The city is in shambles in the 70’s. Tensions rise and rumors are considered true at the time. Richie and Vinny watch their friendship crumble. Two different stories that all wind up the same.  While people keep dying, everyone is scared and isolate in their homes. Young girls bleach their hair, while the killer hunts for brunettes.

Chaos erupts when the men in the neighborhood are cut loose and get out of control instead of working together. Some of the men became vigilantes and tore the neighborhood apart. Things quickly get out of hand when they believe they found the killer, people got hurt just trying to protect themselves.

Summer of Sam is finally coming to streaming services, and I’m excited about it. I always feel like I am a part of the movie the way I holler at it, even though I’ve seen it ten million times. It’s the perfect setting and feeling for people who live in inner cities. Every town has one of these groups; that’s how it goes. Unfortunately, a few guys took stuff into their own hands and went berserk. They don’t care who they hurt as long as it is the madman.

Summer of Sam is also kind of a comfort movie, just from the memories of watching Summer Of Sam. I can’t imagine how scared you would have been if you had lived through this. That’s why I don’t glorify serial killers. This movie gets so sad after being so creative with the story; the ending was rough.

Summer Of Sam is a look at the end of the 70’s. You can feel everyone’s emotions and think, “What would I have done?” The movie snaps me back to reality, and I fall asleep during many movies; Summer Of Sam left me so uncomfortable, like the victims and fed-up neighborhoods. I will suggest this movie to anyone who is streaming. Sometimes, you find a hidden gem that aged very well, no matter how many people don’t like it. I say this: watch what you love. I encourage everyone to be different. If we were all the same, the world would be dull, fitting into the Summer of Sam. Sometimes different is safer, and sometimes being different gets your butt kicked.

Summer of Sam is now available on Paramount+. Please take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy it. Feel the emotions and have a ball if you can.