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During the summer of 1977, a killer known as the Son of Sam keeps all of New York City on edge with a series of brutal murders. A gang makes a list of everyone they think is a freak-o. The witch-hunt is on, with an aspiring punk rocker becoming the focus of their suspicion and an easy scapegoat for their fears.
Whatever you think of Spike Lee, when he has the faith in his talent and material and is able to be political without the dogma, he's one of the best filmmakers to come out of America in the 1980's.
The disappointment with Summer of Sam is not that it's exploitative; it's just difficult to figure out what it's supposed to be about.
March 22, 2002
Los Angeles Times
Lee is a powerful filmmaker who certainly knows how to have an impact on an audience, but those who survive his ministrations are likely to wonder if in this case the battle was worth the bruises.
This ultimately disappoints, but it is good to see Lee branch out into subjects which don't immediately lend themselves to his single-minded politicizing.