Billy Bryk

At just 25, Billy Bryk is making a confident leap into filmmaking. With his feature debut Hell of a Summer—which he co-directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and stars in alongside Finn Wolfhard—he proves he’s more than just an actor. He’s a filmmaker with a distinct vision.

Set at a summer camp, Hell of a Summer follows a group of counselors preparing for the arrival of new campers—until a masked killer begins picking them off one by one. But this isn’t just another indie slasher. Bryk and Wolfhard infuse the film with sharp humor and an unexpected emotional core, subverting classic horror tropes while still delivering genuine thrills.

Bryk plays Bobby, the kind of guy who tries way too hard—to be cool, charming, or the tough guy in the room—but his efforts usually backfire, making him both endearing and exasperating. He’s full of bravado but crumbles the moment real danger appears, proving he’s more of a lovable coward than the hero he envisions himself to be. Despite his flaws, Bobby is undeniably funny, with his panic and bad decisions often playing out in hilarious ways. But as the chaos escalates, we see him evolve. Forced to confront his fears, he slowly steps up when it truly matters. By the film’s climax, Bobby proves to himself and his friends that he’s more than just talk.

Bryk was no stranger to acting, but the moment when filmmaking became real to him arrived in a fittingly cinematic way—on set, amidst the controlled chaos of a fire sequence. "We had a bigger crew that day, more safety personnel because of the fire," he recalls. "Standing there, watching this cabin burn with firefighters all around, it hit me—I’m actually directing a movie. This is real."

His collaboration with Wolfhard began years before they took the helm of Hell of a Summer. The two met on the set of Ghostbusters: Afterlife and bonded over their mutual aspirations as filmmakers. “Very quickly,” Bryk reflects, “we realized that not only did we have similar goals, but we had a strong overlap in the kinds of stories we wanted to tell.” Their friendship evolved into a creative partnership, and Hell of a Summer became a natural extension of that dynamic. "The film wouldn’t exist without both of us."

The idea for the film was sparked by a moment of real-life terror and absurdity. "I was staying in a remote cabin with my family when the alarm system went off in the middle of the night," Bryk recalls. "It was one of those eerie voice alarms. We had just watched a horror movie, and suddenly, everyone’s different reactions were playing out like a scene from one. I was fascinated by how fear and comedy intertwined so naturally."

This idea informed the writing of the film, especially Bryk’s character, Bobby. "He’s someone who has this idea of how he’d react in a horror scenario—like a hero—but when faced with real danger, he’s more of a coward. That tension between expectation and reality felt both hilarious and very human."

While Hell of a Summer is definitely a film by young filmmakers, Bryk resists the notion that it’s defined solely by its Gen Z perspective. "I think a lot of films written by older generations about young people end up feeling like a surface-level interpretation of how Gen Z talks and behaves," he explains. "We didn’t set out to be the ‘voice of a generation.’ We just wanted to write characters who felt real, like the people we grew up with." Rather than leaning into stereotypes, Bryk and Wolfhard aimed to create an authentic experience that resonates beyond generational lines.

As a Filipino Canadian filmmaker, Bryk is keenly aware of the importance of representation, though he approaches it with subtlety. "My grandmother’s personality, my mom’s personality, my aunts—those influences are in everything I create, even if it’s not explicit. I didn’t see a lot of Filipino representation in Hollywood growing up, and while I don’t have immediate plans for a story centered around that experience, it’s definitely something I’d love to explore in the future. I just have to wait until it's the right time and the right story."

With Hell of a Summer under his belt, Bryk is eager to explore new creative avenues. "I’d love to do a dramedy or a straightforward comedy—something character-driven with a strong emotional core. Horror-comedy was an amazing genre to work in, but I want to keep challenging myself."

At its core, Hell of a Summer is more than just a slasher. It’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in blood and laughter. "I want people to leave the theater caring about these characters. Even if it’s a horror movie, even if it’s a comedy, there has to be heart. I hope people walk away from it feeling good… weird as that sounds for a slasher."

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Hell of a Summer was released on April 4, 2025.