We Summon the Darkness

Name: We Summon the Darkness
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Comedy, Music
Released: April 10, 2020
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Alexandra Daddario, Allison McAtee, Amy Forsyth, Austin Swift, Erik Athavale

2020

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Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Ratings

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5.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Ratings

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We Summon The Darkness

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Movie Details & Credits

Saban Films | Release Date (Streaming): April 10, 2020 | R

Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Allison McAtee, Amy Forsyth, Austin Swift, Erik Athavale, Johnny Knoxville, Keean Johnson, Logan Miller, Maddie Hasson, Stephanie Moroz, Tanner Beard

Summary: On the way to a heavy metal concert, Alexis (Alexandra Daddario) and two girlfriends hear a news report of a local murder believed to be tied to a series of satanic killings. After the show, the girls invite three guys to join them at the estate owned by Alexis’s father, a fire-and-brimstone preacher (Johnny Knoxville). What starts as aOn the way to a heavy metal concert, Alexis (Alexandra Daddario) and two girlfriends hear a news report of a local murder believed to be tied to a series of satanic killings. After the show, the girls invite three guys to join them at the estate owned by Alexis’s father, a fire-and-brimstone preacher (Johnny Knoxville). What starts as a party suddenly turns dark and deadly.… Expand

Director: Marc Meyers

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror, Comedy, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

Andrew Crump

Apr 9, 2020

Daddario’s work is a ferocious joy to watch, particularly in light of how well We Summon the Darkness holds back on secrets. Read full review

Matt Donato

Apr 8, 2020

Alexandra Daddario and Maddie Hasson are the Hammett and Hetfield of Marc Meyers’ eyeliner ensemble, with looks that kill and attitudes doubly deadly. For that, this critic can downgrade other complaints. It’s full of amplified unhallowed fun and fiendish shocks in the name of rock n’ roll…or maybe that’s just what “The Man” wants you to think. Read full review

Hannah Hoolihan

Apr 9, 2020

We Summon The Darkness is a wickedly fun and delightfully devilish thrill ride led by electric performances from Alexandra Daddario and Maddie Hasson. Read full review

David Rooney

Apr 6, 2020

An appealing cast and slick period production values make this an entertaining enough retro bloodbath. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Apr 9, 2020

We Summon the Darkness is a psycho thriller that pulls the bloody rug out from under you, and does it in a shivery sly way. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Apr 10, 2020

The proceedings are not entirely unamusing in their lurid way, but they’re also not nearly as clever as the filmmakers believed or hoped they would be. Read full review

Steven Scaife

Apr 6, 2020

The film’s cat-and-mouse antics play out with no sense of escalation or invention. Read full review

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User Reviews

bfoore90

Nov 14, 2020

Alot better film than I expected. More of a comedy than a horror film or even a thriller because alot of the dialogue is played for laughs and theres alot of situational comedy involving the 3 girls, 2 of whom are idiots. Johnny Knoxville is good, albeit in a rather small role.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

umaumai

May 7, 2020

As someone who loves music and goes to see a lot of rock shows, I really enjoyed the setup to this 80’s period thriller. It recalls an unprecedented manic time where the music scene had dramatically risen and influenced a new generation with the advent of MTV. (Though that’s not directlyAs someone who loves music and goes to see a lot of rock shows, I really enjoyed the setup to this 80’s period thriller. It recalls an unprecedented manic time where the music scene had dramatically risen and influenced a new generation with the advent of MTV. (Though that’s not directly brought up in the film.) The acting here is really good even if the motivation and characterization of the female leads is sometimes in conflict with their back story. While you can see the broad strokes of the plot coming, I was pleasantly surprised with a few of the twists. My biggest complaint is that the filming was kind of frenetic along with everyone’s exaggerated motions and movement in the parking lot scene. It really stood out to me like sober people acting drunk. I’m sure it was an aesthetic choice by the director or the DP, but it was a bit much even if it was to help build some anxiety-driven tension. I think that this early use of energy leads to the film feeling like it’s dragging a bit in the final act. I’d say it’s worth a watch for anyone who can handle seeing what would be a modest amount of blood for a slasher flick. I definitely think that if you were alive and remember all the media hype during this time that fed parents fears of devil music getting ahold of their children that you should check this out.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

viroodiem

Jun 20, 2020

Lets start off, people claiming this does not look anything like the 80s are looking at the wrong (lamer) side of the 80s. This doesn't look like Stranger things and the people who lived through that part of the 80s apparently forgot what the edge end of the 80s looked like.

VisuallyLets start off, people claiming this does not look anything like the 80s are looking at the wrong (lamer) side of the 80s. This doesn't look like Stranger things and the people who lived through that part of the 80s apparently forgot what the edge end of the 80s looked like.

Visually everything is very authentic. To the Jeep Cherokee (before they added grand) To the metal head girl look of a bleach blonde with brown eyebrows, To talking about Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer instead of groups like Iron Maiden and Ozzy. The ONLY inauthentic thing I saw was a modern 100$ bill amongst period appropriate 100s. The look, the feel, the dialog, makeup, even casting fit well with the late 80s aesthetic of the 1988 period this is set in.The trio of girls look like they just stepped out of Great White's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" video.(Forgot just how amazing jeans of that era looked) Even the "satanic panic" of that period was represented.

Now past that even the plot is reminiscent of 80s slasher flicks, just with its twist.

For what it was it is the best representation of the 80s I have seen. That does not mean its a great film. It is definitely watchable and the story gave me a few good laughs along the way. If it had not been a period piece it would have only netted a 5 in my book. Where they absolutely nailed the 80s metal aesthetic Ill gift it 2 additional points to bring it up to 7. Just a shame this couldn't be cranked up to 11. Even still its one of the most accurate depictions of the 1980s to come out of this recent rash of 80s nostalgia in TV and film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

AWESOM-0

Aug 16, 2020

Much better than expected and Daddario really pulls off the psycho well. I think the people who say this doesn’t look like the eighties maybe never grew up in the 80’s. That or they just have a very limited view of what the 80’s looked like. To me this represents the late 80’s very well. TheMuch better than expected and Daddario really pulls off the psycho well. I think the people who say this doesn’t look like the eighties maybe never grew up in the 80’s. That or they just have a very limited view of what the 80’s looked like. To me this represents the late 80’s very well. The metal scene during that era was big and the Bible thumping religious zealots who declared it satans music, was all over the place.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mjcarrillo96

Aug 5, 2020

There's nothing wrong here with the premise or even the acting. I would even say this might be Alexandra Daddario's best performance and the cast is clearly having fun. I also liked all the character archetypes that were set up. But unfortunately, each character's desire line feels soThere's nothing wrong here with the premise or even the acting. I would even say this might be Alexandra Daddario's best performance and the cast is clearly having fun. I also liked all the character archetypes that were set up. But unfortunately, each character's desire line feels so unclear, leaving many scenes with empty space and characters doing nothing. After 40 minutes, it becomes pretty clear that the film doesn't quite know how to fill up its already short runtime.

Also, I rarely make this complaint, but this movie definitely isn't violent enough for the kind of cult horror it's going for. There's some witty and crude dialogue but after so much bark and less bite, the film begins to lack a sense of excitement or danger. I really just went in expecting a mindless slasher flick and it doesn't even really deliver on that regard. There are far worse horror movies, but beyond a good cast and pleasant 80's throwback aesthetic, there isn't too much to offer. Although they might be comparable in overall filmmaking quality, I would say something like The Babysitter (2017) makes for a more worthwhile crazy-cult slasher comedy.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TryASummersault

Apr 13, 2020

They summon the mediocrity, and that's about it.
Suddenly even VOD releases are now coveted and sought out with the current insanity, but don't fall for this lowest common denominator cliche nonsense of a film. It's marketed as yet another 80's themed nostalgia trip with a slasher horrorThey summon the mediocrity, and that's about it.
Suddenly even VOD releases are now coveted and sought out with the current insanity, but don't fall for this lowest common denominator cliche nonsense of a film. It's marketed as yet another 80's themed nostalgia trip with a slasher horror Genre focus. Well to be honest it's neither and truly an embarrassing low budget production. It's really just a bunch of cliches around every corner intertwined in a really shallow story with extremely unlikable characters. There's a few references to Metallica and some leather/chains and they think that's enough to make it (80s fare). The attempted slasher aspects come off as cheap dark comedy and the big twist was pretty lackluster. Knoxville was really the only thing worth anything as it was interesting seeing him in this type of role.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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