Summer of Fear (1996 TV Movie) User Reviews

This is not the same movie as they are showing on the cover

[Mariav-4 · 5/10 · 23 July 2006]

Summer of Fear aka Stranger in our House was a movie directed by Wes Craven made for TV based on a Lois Duncan novel. Lois Duncan also wrote I know what you did last summer.

This movie is similar I guess in plot but is basically about a guy and his family who go to his family lake house and get carjacked on the way. They are saved by a young guy named just "simon". They settle in to the house and happen to bump into Simon at the town center. From there he invades their life.

Typical TV movie for lifetime which I always enjoy. For a boring Sunday afternoon - I say go for it.

Drama, not horror

[duckman_079 · 4/10 · 19 September 2020]

A lot of upsetting and dramatically bad things happen to this family. I sat waiting for the horror to start, but there was nothing but disturbing events. If I liked drama and seeing people upset and hurt, I'd give this a higher rating.

BLUFFING CAN GO A LONG WAY

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 6 June 2019]

Lucas (Gregory Harrison) inherits a summer cottage and his wife (Glynnis O'Connor) insists he take the family there for the summer. Lucas has flashbacks about the place. In route they encounter some bad men who abduct the family only to be rescued by Simon (Corin Nemec) a 19 year old boy who daughter Haley (Natalie Shaw ) takes a shine to.

Simon ends up staying at the cottage and creates problems. That is pretty much it, except for the twist which seasoned viewers will have figured out by the end of the first good flashback.

Made of TV boring. Lifetime fans should like it.

Have I seen this movie before...?

[MayhapsItWasGoodBackThen · 1/10 · 7 June 1999]

Average cast. Predictable plot. And a happy ending... Uhh.. What kinda movie is this supposed to be anyways? Too lame to be a thriller, so let's say it's one of those semi-suspense flicks. Pretty standard film all in all that really has not much new to offer... If you don't have anything better to do, you might as well watch this.

An endurance test. So boring. The actors try, but it's no use. The screenplay and directing is sleep inducing.

[Bababooe · 1/10 · 10 December 2018]

Believe it or not I actually finished watching this. It took me two sittings, some fast forwarding, and playing the guitar so I could stay awake, to make it to the end.

There is no reason to watch this movie. The best part was when the family was first attacked by the two carjackers. But that faded quickly. The rest of the movie is just painful to watch as the father/husband is demeaned by everyone including his wife, kids and cops. At least the actor was getting paid. What about the viewer? We have to endure this ridicule scene after scene. And in between the ridicule we have boring stale scenes of garbage.

The actors did the best they could. You could see them trying. The problem is the story/screenplay, and the directing is just plain boring.

Stay away.

Was this a book?

[l_barnes87 · 6 April 2002]

I think that I read a book by Lois Duncan with the same plot. Is this this movie based on that book? I'm not sure, because the names are different and she is not listed in the writing credits. Anyway, this movie has David Gallagher, who is really cute, so if you're a fan of 7th Heaven, go watch it.

Not the Lois Duncan book

[dcook-4 · 5/10 · 11 June 2005]

The Lois Duncan book was actually made into a 1978 (I think) movie, starring Linda Blair - this isn't it. I believe that movie was originally called Stranger In My House. The premise and people aren't even the same. This movie was completely predictable, right from the very beginning. I had the entire "twist" figured out within about a half hour into the movie. It was in Lifetime Movie Network, and I had TiVo-ed it, not really expecting to get anything out of the movie - and I didn't. It was a fluff piece...a way to waste time. It's always kinda funny to see Corin "Corky" Nemec as a complete psychopath. However, David Gallagher, who plays the son in the movie, has dark, almost black hair. Such a sharp contrast from his 7th Heaven role. Also, Corky Nemec's name in this movie is Simon. How weird that David Gallagher ended up playing a Simon later heh

Pretty good TV movie

[jennie0409 · 8/10 · 26 May 2003]

Three mild spoilers

For a TV movie, "Summer of Fear" is pretty darn good! It's got a bunch of twists and turns. I felt so happy that Simon did not turn out to be a killer. Most of the time, the "bad guy" is really just messed-up psychologically. But to make the movie worthwhile, the moviemakers turn the poor guy into a killer. Not in this case!

Gregory Harrison normally plays a bad guy or a killer in most of the made-for-TV movies he's been in. It's weird to see him portray a protagonist character for once. It was strange, but definitely good. > )

At the end, I couldn't help thinking about what it must have felt like to be Winnie Marshall, Lucas' and Cat's daughter. She went on a sailing date with Simon, and wore only her bathing suit once she was out of her father's sight. She obviously finds him sexy and attractive. Even girls that age don't flirt with just anybody... well, maybe some do. (I was always too picky and never really boy-crazy.) Then, it turns out that Simon's her half-brother. Eww! I don't think that any amount of showers could wash that feeling off her... poor girl! And the fact that he knew she was his sister makes it that much worse.

If you'd like to discuss this or any other movie, please feel free to e-mail me. God bless you!

Rip Off!

[rumor_scout42 · 13 June 2002]

I've seen this movie and it is the exact plot as in a book by Lois Duncan called "Summer of Fear", it's a good book you should read it. But still their are no writing credits towards her even though it my say this other lady wrote a book called "Simon Says", it's still the same book and I'm pretty sure "Summer of Fear" was written first. But the movie was ok it really wasn't that suspenseful and it's really a movie you'd have to be up with insomnia to watch.I wouldn't waste 3 dollars to rent it. Though a good movie you should sit through is "Cruel Intentions"!