Children of the Eternal Summer

Horror is one of the most appealing (and profitable) genres and there is nothing scarier than the human mind. While people can be skeptical about monsters or paranormal beings, we can’t ignore the fact that many of the worst things to ever happen to humankind are products of itself. We have caused countless terrible things – and, what’s even worse, is that we somehow find a manage to justify them. To think that it was the right thing to do or that the people who suffered from them “deserved it”. One might think that we have learned from our mistakes, but to be honest, our current society is clear evidence that we don’t. How many times haven’t we met a person who, on the surface, seems like a charismatic, charming individual… and that then disturbs us with some radical ideas that justify the suffering and death of someone else? It’s scary, isn’t it? The human mind is a very delicate, confused thing… and it can so easily fall into the manipulations of a charismatic leader, whether it be Charles Manson or Adolf Hitler.

That’s what Children of the Eternal Summer tries to explore. To show the scariest, creepiest side of the human mind. Our protagonists are a married couple who come as regular folks. Sure, they have problems and they aren’t saints. They are flawed and they are confused, but their problems are very mundane. Infidelity, jealousy, things a lot of people go through, and that, sure enough, can play a heavy role in the way we interact with others. But… all of that becomes nothing when they find themselves dealing with an actually terrible, dangerous group of people who are incredibly convinced that what they are doing is the right thing. The right call to save humanity. That is eating the people who are “killing the world”. Again, our protagonists are just regular people. They don’t have a significant role in the society. They are just struggling with “normal” stuff. However, they are judged and condemned for their confusion and mistakes… and become the victims of these sick individuals who keep seeing themselves as the saviors of the world.

And I wish I could say this is just pure fiction, but… it is not, right? We all see the news. We all watch documentaries. Things like this happen time and time again… and you will always find people defending the events. You will always find people defending the Nazis. You will always find people defending Charles Manson. And you will always find people defending every messed-up thing that happens. And that, for me, is what makes the human mind the scariest thing of all.

So, this project comes as a reflection of that. It intends to scare its audience by sending them through the hell our protagonists, Dan and Claudia, go through as they are hunted by a cannibal cult… and maybe, just maybe, make them think twice before they decide to follow a charismatic leader. After all, the climax for this story will require the realization of one of the cult members of the cruelness of the person she is following, which will lead to the falling of the hell this group has created through an incredibly cathartic (if violent) ending that shows that evil will always be destroyed.

A FEW REVIEWS...

"Going fully into the horror genre with this screenplay, Jerzy opted for a story revolving cannibalism and broken relationships. "Children of the Eternal Summer" follows a couple, Claudia and Dan, whose relationship is marked by tension and estrangement. They find themselves on a road trip intended to rekindle their connection, but instead, they become entangled in a harrowing ordeal.

The story begins with Claudia and Dan attempting to reconnect through a mundane sexual encounter in a motel room. Their journey takes a surreal turn when they encounter a pair of free-spirited women, Marjorie and Mac, after suffering car troubles due to sabotaged tires. Marjorie and Mac, charismatic and enigmatic, lead Claudia and Dan to a remote commune known as "The Children of the Eternal Summer," where the couple is initially welcomed. However, the commune's leader, Gilroy Sloane, and its members harbor sinister intentions under the guise of spiritual enlightenment and reconnection with nature.

The screenplay escalates as Dan and Claudia are separated and subjected to indoctrination and psychological manipulation aimed at integrating them into the cult. The cult practices brutal rites of passage which involve the symbolic killing of one's past life, represented by actual violence towards other commune members perceived as unworthy or corrupt.

As the ritualistic violence unfolds, Claudia is drugged and prepared to perform a sacrificial act on Dan, coerced by the belief that she is purging her old life and misdeeds. Mac, who initially facilitated their indoctrination, experiences a change of heart, recognizing the immorality and real harm in the cult's practices. She intervenes, attempting to halt the proceedings, which leads to chaos and a fiery confrontation.

Ultimately, the screenplay highlights themes of manipulation, the search for belonging, and the destructive potential of charismatic authority. Jerzy keeps on surprising us so make sure to check his previous and also the next reviews of his works!" - Wallachia International Film Festival