Fantastic Fest 2025 Review: 13 Days Till Summer

The mask alone in 13 Days Till Summer is destined for slasher icon status at Fantastic Fest 2025.

Possibly one of the standout films of the night belongs to 13 Days Till Summer, directed by Bartosz M. Kowalski — the same filmmaker who delivered Playground, still one of the most polarizing films ever to screen at Fantastic Fest. This time around, Kowalski dives headfirst into the slasher arena, and the result is one of the cleanest, most stylish entries of the festival.

The story centers on a young boy who witnesses a brutal murder. Already withdrawn, glued to his video games, and navigating a strained relationship with his older sister, his fragile world fractures even further when their father leaves town. The sister brings friends over for a night in — but what starts as typical sibling tension unravels into pure terror. A sophisticated lockdown system inexplicably activates, trapping everyone inside the house as a masked killer begins to pick them off one by one.

While the narrative treads familiar ground, Kowalski elevates it with razor-sharp cinematography, deliberate pacing, and masterful control of tension. The film’s most striking feature is the killer’s mask — easily one of the most sinister and unsettling designs to emerge in years. It joins the pantheon of slasher iconography alongside The Strangers, ensuring 13 Days Till Summer will leave a lasting visual impression.

The house itself becomes a character, its fortified systems and claustrophobic design amplifying the dread. Combined with stark lighting and atmospheric camerawork, the setting grounds the slasher mechanics in a way that feels fresh even within genre conventions. Think of it as a sibling to Kevin Williamson’s Sick — stripped-down, smartly crafted, and designed to thrill an audience hungry for horror that respects the fundamentals.

Not every choice will sit well with viewers, and one particular moment is likely to divide audiences. Still, the stylish precision and relentless suspense push 13 Days Till Summer into must-see territory. Kowalski proves once again that he knows how to challenge and entertain genre fans in equal measure.

Verdict: 4 out of 5

A sleek, sinister slasher with atmosphere to spare, 13 Days Till Summer is proof that sometimes doing the basics with style and precision is more than enough.