INTERVIEW: Get Swept Up In The Mayhem Of ‘Sons Of Summer’

Aussie filmmaker Phillip Avalon describes his upcoming Sons of Summer as a “road movie where four young surfers are swept up into a riptide of murder and mayhem”.

“I was approached by a Hollywood production company to remake Summer City, updating it to today’s world,” he tells Supanova ahead of Sons of Summer’s Australian cinema release later this month.

“I responded with, ‘Wouldn’t it be better to do a new story but somehow relate it to the original?’ With my co-writer Greg Clayton onboard, we wrote 28 drafts over eight months before settling on the current story.”

While Sons of Summer can be seen as a sequel to his 1977 cult film, those who haven’t seen Summer City (which starred Mel Gibson, alongside Supanova alumni Steve Bisley and John Jarratt) don’t need to worry.

The film follows the story of Sean Bindaboo (Joe Davidson in his first major movie role) and his three surfer pals as they plan to hit the road on ‘surfari’ following the same path as their dads to pay tribute to Sean’s father – murdered by a vet 30 years earlier.

Sean, orphaned, fresh from prison and trying to go straight is conned by his closest friend into boosting a car to repay a debt before they leave. The car is owned by a criminal and his minder, a psychotic killer played by Supanova alumnus Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett, Aquaman).

Unbeknownst to the group, the killer tracks Sean and his pals into a Coastal Holiday Park where a major turn of events awaits them.

Avalon admits he was amazed by Morrison’s acting in Sons of Summer.

“It was such a joy to watch Temuera Morrison bring ‘Frank’ the psychotic hitman to life; what a talent.”

Another highlight was the fact he was able to reprise the role of Robbie, who appears in Summer City.

“Robbie is a small part of the big picture, and it was the first time as an actor I’ve ever played a dad,” he says, teasing a different version of the character than what we saw in the original.

Shot on the Gold Coast, Avalon notes that it’s visually stunning.

He adds: “The music [is] next level, and the new talent we’ve introduced like Joe Davidson and Pacha Light are exceptional and will see bright futures.”

Sons of Summer will premiere at HOTA Gold Coast on August 23 before rolling out nationally in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Newcastle, Sydney Northern Beaches, Torquay, Adelaide and Perth.