The Arts Desk’s media guide for Summerween

Media picks to help transition from the heat of summer into the chill of fall 

By BELLA PETERSON — arts@theaggie.org 

For the most earnest fans of the spookiest season of the year, it can be hard to wait for October to roll around. Thankfully, there are no rules against celebrating early. By engaging in a specific selection of media, the most enthusiastic acolytes of All Hallows Eve can channel their passion into any season of the year, even summer— resulting in an eclectic time termed by some as summerween. 

Movie: “Jaws,” dir. Steven Spielberg (1975)

Spielberg’s “Jaws” is widely considered a classic that everyone should see at least once. For the few who haven’t gotten around to seeing it for themselves, the end of the summer season, also known as the beginning of summerween, is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with Amity Island and Bruce the shark. 

The film takes place during the summer at a popular tourist spot: Amity Island. After a woman is killed by a shark while going swimming, the town responds with chaos. The police chief, ship captain and ichthyologist (a scientist who studies fish) must then work to end the beast’s terror.

“Jaws,” being rooted in reality, captures a distinct fear; it takes the title “creature-feature” to a tangible level. The film set the standard for terrifying shark concepts, paving the way for many future projects.

TV Show: “Widow’s Bay,” created by Katie Dippold (2026)

If you didn’t believe the hype at first, then you can believe the 14 Emmy Awards. “Widow’s Bay” delivers the perfect infusion of comedy and horror, allowing for an enriched viewing experience for different audiences. 

During the summer, struggling tourist town Widow’s Bay is confronted with multiple malevolent entities, prompting its mayor, Tom Loftis, to search for the answers to ending the island’s curse once and for all. 

The show melds the two genres seamlessly without diminishing its own tension or any jokes falling flat, and these tense, terrifying moments, set against the backdrop of summer, make it an ideal pick for Summerween. “Widow’s Bay” is stacked with iconic storylines from episode to episode, never losing its momentum. With only one season of the show out currently, viewers can easily watch through it, even amidst busy schedules. 

Video Game: “The Quarry,” by Supermassive Games (2022)

Supermassive Games presented the spiritual successor to their previous horror title “Until Dawn” (2015) during the summer of 2022 with “The Quarry.” Following a group of camp counselors celebrating their last night of summer at Camp Hackett’s Quarry, “The Quarry” offers both a survival horror experience for the player and an interactive drama.

Players must do their best to make the correct decisions and perform quick-time events to ensure the entire group makes it out alive. The cast is filled with recognizable faces such as David Arquette, Brenda Song, Justice Smith and Ariel Winter, among others. 

“The Quarry” perfectly exemplifies Summerween as it wraps up the end of summer with a terrifying night of werewolves and curses. The player can take the fates of the characters into their own hands with this unique horror gaming experience.     

TV Show: “Gravity Falls,” created by Alex Hirsch (2012)

Nobody does summerween quite like “Gravity Falls,” which even has a whole episode dedicated to the concept. Taking place in the Pacific Northwest in the fictional town of Gravity Falls, twins Dipper and Mabel Pines go to visit their great uncle, Stan. 

The beloved cartoon creatively presents horrific concepts, allowing for both younger and more mature audiences to thoroughly enjoy it. The plot succeeds at maintaining interest for its viewers as the mystery unfolds.

“Gravity Falls” implements a wide variety of whimsical creatures, from rainbow-puking gnomes to clones to zombies being mistaken for angsty teens — the show has it all to offer. 

Summerween allows for people to get a head start on all the spooky, wonderful things fall normally has to offer. Whether it's fighting to survive at a summer camp or trying to market your cursed island as a tourist attraction — these Summerween media picks have it covered. 

Written by: Bella Peterson — arts@theaggie.org