How ‘Shaun of the Dead’ Inspired Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk’s Directorial Debut ‘Hell of a Summer’

variety.com:

McKinley Franklin editor Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk were tired of the garbled Gen Z stereotypes plastered about modern Hollywood — so, they created their own narrative in “Hell of a Summer.” “Our number one conversation was how annoying it is to see new teen movies and how badly our age group is represented,” says Wolfhard. “And we’re like, ‘Why don’t we just do it?’” And so they did.

Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival Sept. 10, “Hell of a Summer” serves as both Wolfhard and Bryk’s feature directorial debuts (Bryk says it’s a “dream come true” to have the film premiere at Toronto).

However, the two actors didn’t just co-direct the film — they also starred in and wrote the feature. The film extends the duo’s portfolio of joint projects, having previously co-starred in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “When You Finish Saving the World.” What’s the secret to their synergetic success? “We’re friends first,” reveals Wolfhard. “It feels like this film is a visual representation of our friendship in so many ways,” adds Bryk.

Bryk says the film is “the result of our shared sensibilities,” recalling that the plot of “Hell of a Summer” came together with a shared concept for a slasher comedy. “I’d written this scene for this idea of a character who published a kill list at a sleepaway camp,” with its ranking being determined by “hotness and popularity.” Bryk’s proposal incorporated a sense of irony in the notion that the exclusivity of the list angered fellow campers who hadn’t been ranked high.