My Summer as a Goth is a charming coming of age story dressed in all black and smeared with Manic Panic. It is filled with heartwarming moments (and a good handful of cringey ones), but all in all this movie is dressed to impress.

Joey Javitts (Natalie Shershow) is mourning the death of her father. Joey’s mother Carissa (Sarah Overman), sends Joey to her grandparents’ (Fayra Teeters and Jonas Israel) home for the summer while Carissa completes her book tour. While brooding about her new digs for the summer, Joey is captivated by her mysterious goth neighbor Victor (Jack Levis). As the two begin a summer romance, so too begins Joey’s transformation and induction into the goth culture. As summer drags on, Joey is forced to weigh her friendships, romantic partnerships, and really begins to discover who she is. 

I love coming of age films. Their relatability and genuineness make them the perfect cinematic pick me up, and My Summer as a Goth fits right in. The storyline is your typical “young teen goes on a rebellious self-exploration expedition and comes out so much better in 90 minutes” schtick but from a different angle. Seeing Joey navigate familial loss and self-discovery by way of a black lipstick filled summer romance feels very modern and unique and audiences will definitely get the warm ‘n’ fuzzies. 

Natalie Shershow dazzles as outcast turned goth Joey. She’s quirky, quick-witted, lovable, and anyone who has ever been 16 will find relatability in Shershow’s performance. Fayra Teeters and Jonas Israel are insanely adorable as Joey’s grandparents. They provided much needed comedic relief and grounding to keep the film from being completely satirical. A little shallow at times, Jack Levis provided a simple and fun (albeit a little over the top) villain for audiences to root against in the form of boyfriend Victor. 

Strong stereotyping is definitely present in My Summer as a Goth. The goths (specifically Victor) are portrayed as what probably every “non-goth” person thinks of when they hear the term “goth”. Over the top pale makeup, hanging out in graveyards all the time, filled with chagrin at the thought of being in the sun for more than 5 minutes… you get the idea. Goths aren’t the only social group subjected to satirization. Punks are portrayed as hot-headed tough guys with leather jackets, chains, and pocket knives. The grandparents are all goofy (yet lovable), and anyone with blonde hair was popular. 

Some may find this “caricature nature” of social groups offputting, and to an extent, I agree. These representations are the more “extreme” examples of being a goth and may give people the wrong impression of how the general population of goths are. But I would re-frame this by saying the over-the-top portrayal amplifies the goth experience and how outsiders perceive them. That being said, there were elements that were spot on and gloriously captured the spirit of goth (ex. The music, the DANCING, the artisanal coffee affinity, and world view). Keep in mind the target audience is likely of a younger generation and dramatic representations of social archetypes are common. 

Some suspension of disbelief is needed to smooth over the jumpy plot points, but it is not enough to dismiss the film altogether. I watched the film with my resident goth and she approved… so it gets the official goth seal of approval. My Summer as a Goth is a fun way to pass some time and you come out of it feeling delighted… and you may also feel like putting on some Bauhaus. 

6 out of 10