Cruel Summer

Watch Cruel Summer

  • TV-14
  • 2021
  • 1 Season
  • 7.5  (15,504)

Cruel Summer is a psychological thriller television series that premiered on FreeForm in 2021. The show is set in the 1990s in a small Texas town, and follows the lives of two teenage girls, Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt) and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia). The series is set over three different summers - 1993, 1994, and 1995. Each summer, the perspective shifts between Jeanette and Kate, providing different viewpoints and raising questions about their past and present. At the beginning of the show, Jeanette Turner is a shy, nerdy girl who idolizes Kate Wallis, the popular and rich girl in school. However, things take a dark turn when Kate goes missing and Jeanette is accused of knowing more than she lets on. As the story unfolds, the audience is left wondering if Jeanette is really the innocent girl she seems to be. The show is full of twists and turns, with each episode providing new clues and raising new questions. The audience is constantly kept on their toes, trying to piece together the truth about what happened to Kate. The performances in the show are incredible, with Olivia Holt and Chiara Aurelia both delivering powerful performances as the show's leads. Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Blake Lee, Michael Landes, and Brooklyn Sudano all provide strong supporting performances as well. One of the strengths of the show is its exploration of the complexities of adolescence. The characters are all grappling with difficult issues like identity, class, and trauma. The show also does an excellent job of capturing the nostalgia of the 90s, with its fashion, music, and general aesthetic. Overall, Cruel Summer is an intense and suspenseful show that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The show's themes and performances elevate it beyond your typical teen drama, making it a must-watch for anyone looking for a gripping psychological thriller.

Cruel Summer
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Seasons
Hostile Witness
10. Hostile Witness
June 15, 2021
Kate and Jeannette's worlds collide as the court date arrives, finally forcing the two young women to answer the question on everyone's mind, but the answer comes with a price that not everyone can pay.
A Secret of My Own
9. A Secret of My Own
June 8, 2021
Kate's closely held secrets and fragmented memories of her time in Martin's captivity are brought to the surface.
Proof
8. Proof
June 1, 2021
On the first day of school, everyone learns that the drama of the summer is anything but over and that some people will pay more for the consequences of Jeanette and Kate's deception than others.
Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis
7. Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis
May 25, 2021
Kate struggles with a family secret she's been holding on to. Joy tries to convince Kate to go on "The Marsha Bailey Show." Mallory has a birthday surprise.
An Ocean Inside Me
6. An Ocean Inside Me
May 18, 2021
A new deposition threatens Jeanette's case. A discovery causes Cindy's suspicions about her own daughter to reach new heights as her relationship with Greg becomes further strained.
As the Carny Gods Intended
5. As the Carny Gods Intended
May 11, 2021
Jeannette and Kate cross paths at the Skylin High takeover of the County Fair, where one is desperate to prove herself and the other to lose herself.
You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat
4. You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat
May 4, 2021
Kate, reeling from the lawsuit, prepares her defense and finds friendship in an unlikely source. The annual Wallis hunting trip becomes the setting for an important first meeting.
Off With a Bang
3. Off With a Bang
April 27, 2021
Victim or villain? Jeanette continues to add fuel to the fire as her reckless behavior causes her friends and family to question her even more.
A Smashing Good Time
2. A Smashing Good Time
April 20, 2021
It’s time for the annual Skylin Garden Club Party! Year after year after year, the residents of Skylin struggle with the truth around what happened to Kate, keeping their secrets buried and maintaining appearances.
Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner
1. Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner
April 20, 2021
Taking place over 3 summers in the 90s when a popular teen goes missing, and a seemingly unrelated girl transforms from a sweet and awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town, eventually becoming the most despised person in America.
Description

Cruel Summer is a psychological thriller television series that premiered on FreeForm in 2021. The show is set in the 1990s in a small Texas town, and follows the lives of two teenage girls, Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt) and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia). The series is set over three different summers - 1993, 1994, and 1995. Each summer, the perspective shifts between Jeanette and Kate, providing different viewpoints and raising questions about their past and present.

At the beginning of the show, Jeanette Turner is a shy, nerdy girl who idolizes Kate Wallis, the popular and rich girl in school. However, things take a dark turn when Kate goes missing and Jeanette is accused of knowing more than she lets on. As the story unfolds, the audience is left wondering if Jeanette is really the innocent girl she seems to be.

The show is full of twists and turns, with each episode providing new clues and raising new questions. The audience is constantly kept on their toes, trying to piece together the truth about what happened to Kate.

The performances in the show are incredible, with Olivia Holt and Chiara Aurelia both delivering powerful performances as the show's leads. Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Blake Lee, Michael Landes, and Brooklyn Sudano all provide strong supporting performances as well.

One of the strengths of the show is its exploration of the complexities of adolescence. The characters are all grappling with difficult issues like identity, class, and trauma. The show also does an excellent job of capturing the nostalgia of the 90s, with its fashion, music, and general aesthetic.

Overall, Cruel Summer is an intense and suspenseful show that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The show's themes and performances elevate it beyond your typical teen drama, making it a must-watch for anyone looking for a gripping psychological thriller.

Cruel Summer is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (10 episodes). The series first aired on April 20, 2021.

Where to Watch Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer is available for streaming on the FreeForm website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Cruel Summer on demand at Google Play and Apple TV.

  • Premiere Date
    April 20, 2021
  • IMDB Rating
    7.5  (15,504)