written by: Jared Isaac
produced by: Zach Aries, Becky Boggs, Jared Isaac, JohnPaul Morris & Brandon Somerhalder
directed by: Jared Isaac
rating: not rated
runtime: 98 min.
U.S. release date: April 23, 2026 (Music Box Theatre, Chicago, IL) & June 2, 2026 (Digital Platforms)

“An Autumn Summer” is one of those films that leans into experiences and memories rather than offering a narrative or character arc, and that will be a strike against it for some. But it’s actually one of the film’s strengths. The convincing, immersive ways in which writer/director Jared Isaac captures the waning days of summer in his directorial debut are impressive. You don’t have to be familiar with the geography or have had a similar experience to the young characters in this story to relate to that feeling when the days spent with your friends are numbered. “An Autumn Summer” captures those bittersweet, uncertain feelings when we know adulthood is looming.

It’s summer 2010, and Kevin (Mark McKenna, “Sing Street” and “Overlord”) and his girlfriend Cody (Lukita Maxwell, “Shrinking” and “Backrooms”) are spending the last month of summer at his family’s lakeside cottage in Northern Michigan. They’re joined by two of their close friends, Jared (Jun Yu) and Martin (Julian Bass), and Kevin’s parents, Marylou (Louise Barnes) and Steve (Tony Horton, of P90X fame), with no particular agenda in mind except to hang out for what will likely be the last time before the four friends go off to different colleges. Whether they are on a boat on Lake Michigan, hiking in the woods or the sand dunes, sitting around a bonfire, or just chilling out at the cottage, they make long-lasting memories.

The four eighteen-year-olds we follow in “An Autumn Summer” may not realize that the time they spend is precious, but viewers definitely do. We can relate to that uncertain feeling of saying goodbye to our teen years. Maybe you didn’t spend your summer days after high school at your friend’s family getaway at the lake, but there were nevertheless days spent with friends where you felt these were the best days.

That’s the main vibe you pick up from watching Isaac’s film, which certainly feels like a project born of personal recollection. That feeling makes sense, considering Isaac himself was eighteen back in 2010, and he’s drawing inspiration from his own memories of spending time with friends in Michigan at that age. It was a time when TikTok and Instagram weren’t as all-consuming or prevalent as they are now, and teens weren’t on their phones nearly as much. Therefore, it’s a good year to set this story in, when the characters are free from today’s distractions found in the palm of your hand, and the setting is also different from where each character hails from. This is where each of them can not only spend time together, but also experience this place together.

This is a hangout movie aimed at recapturing a specific time in life, without a specific narrative to drive it. While that may not sit well with certain viewers, I found myself absorbed by engaging characters and immersed in the idyllic environments. Much of that is credit to a talented ensemble and the impressive skills of cinematographer Brandon Somerhalder, Isaac’s longtime friend. He has an uncanny knack for capturing the summer visuals we cherish in our memories: from sun-soaked days to the placid lakeshore at dusk, to the lush colors of the dense woods, and even the freedom and glee felt while riding a bicycle on an open country road. These visuals of “An Autumn Summer”, along with Mehrnaz Mohabati’s observant sound design and Christiana Laine’s meticulous production design, culminate in a surprising visual experience.

Admittedly, my interest in “An Autumn Summer” was piqued when I noticed it starred Lukita Maxwell, who’s caught the attention of anyone who’s watched Apple TV’s “Shrinking”. She’s great here as Cody and has palpable chemistry with McKenna’s Kevin, and together they exude a noticeable comfort and ease. You can tell these two understand each other, and while their future together is uncertain, the time we spend with them is convincing. Some viewers may find there’s not enough going on with this couple, since we don’t see much in the realm of arguments or friction, but that’s only because that’s what we’re used to. Seeing a young couple who communicate pretty well and aren’t smothering or insecure with each other is kind of rare and quite refreshing.

There’s also an accepting comfort level conveyed by Kevin’s parents, which may seem a little different, possibly forced for some viewers. Marylou and Steve embrace Kevin’s friends as if they are their own kids, and that’s something I can definitely relate to, having such adult figures in my youth. It’s a reminder that sometimes a “found family” sneaks up on you or just naturally happens, even when you’re not even looking for one.

There’s much to appreciate in “An Autumn Summer”, as long as you allow it to pull you in as a viewer. It may not be everyone’s nostalgia, but there is nevertheless a universal relatability here that sneaks up on you. Isaac excels at replicating his own experiences, knowing they are worth capturing and sharing.

“An Autumn Summer” aims for a nostalgic, intimate portrait of young love and the bittersweet end of adolescence, but for long stretches it struggles to hold the audience’s attention. It’s an admirable endeavor that intuitively captures the lazy days of summer with fondness and warmth.

RATING: ***