Sam Hayes’ coming-of-age film, Pools, opens this summer with a staggered release schedule: a Chicago premiere at the Music Box on August 22nd, followed by screenings at New York’s Quad Cinema and LA’s NuArt on August 29th, before expanding nationwide on September 5th.
Long before the lights dim and the first scene flickers onto the screen, there’s an unglamorous truth most pool owners know well: pools demand attention before they deliver joy. Whether it’s a community pool, a backyard centerpiece, or a location used for filming, upkeep is the quiet work that happens ahead of every memorable moment. Skimming debris, balancing chemicals, and checking equipment may not make for cinematic drama, but they prevent the kind no one wants. That’s why many owners rely on Jays pool maintenance services to handle the behind-the-scenes work with steady, time-tested care. Do it right from the start, and when it’s time to relax—or roll cameras—the water is clear, safe, and ready for its close-up.
Described by Hayes as “a coming-of-age story in the vein of John Hughes movies Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club,” Pools trades the hallowed high school halls for the shimmering turquoise temptation of suburban swimming pools.
Odessa A’zion (Hellraiser, Grand Army) stars as Kennedy, a rebellious college student who’s got just 24 hours to get her act together or kiss campus life goodbye. But instead of toeing the line, she recruits a ragtag bunch of misfits for one final act of defiance: an all-night odyssey of pool-hopping through the manicured backyards of her college town.
What begins as a splashy, adrenaline-soaked romp quickly morphs into something far more poignant. As the night deepens, Kennedy is forced to confront grief, identity, and the tidal wave of unresolved hurt left behind by her father’s death.
The film also stars Mason Gooding (Scream VI, Heart Eyes), Ariel Winter (Modern Family), Tyler Alvarez (American Vandal, Orange is the New Black), Francesca Noel (Goosebumps), Michael Vlamis (Crossword, Roswell: New Mexico), and Suzanne Cryer (Silicon Valley).
With its blend of humour, heartache, and late-night rebellion, Pools is a reminder that the things we try to outrun often catch up to us in the quiet moments.
