We Summon the Darkness

We Summon the Darkness

2019

Director- Marc Meyers

Cast- Alexandra Daddario, Keean Johnson, Maddie Hasson, Amy Forsyth, Logan Miller, Austin Swift, Allison McAtee, Johnny Knoxville

            

     This slasher is set against the back drop of the satanic panic of the 1980s. A satanic cult has been killing people in ritualistic massacres leading to the expected sensationalist reporting. Meanwhile, Pastor John Henry Butler (Johnny Knoxville) is leading a televangelist crusade against the forces of evil.

           

     In the midst of this, three girls go to a heavy metal concert. Alexis (Daddario) is the leader of the group. Valerie (Hasson) is the slightly flakey and adventurous type. Beverly (Forsyth) is the quiet newcomer to the group. At the concert they meet a trio of guys making a farewell trip for their bud Mark (Keean Johnson who you may recognize from Battle Angel Alita) before he moves out to LA in search of fortune and glory.

           

     

     The girls invite the guys to a party at Alexis’ giant house since her parents are away for the weekend. As it turns out the girls aren’t in any danger of being killed by a cult, because they are members of it. They drug the three guys and prepare them for a sacrifice. Don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler. You figure this out pretty early in the film. The boys break free and barricade themselves and that’s when the real drama of the movie begins.

            

     All three of the female leads turn in good performances and I liked the flipping of the traditional slasher theme by having the ladies being the bloodthirsty killers instead of the hapless victims. The story moves along at a good pace and though not a horror-comedy, it has enough humor to show that it’s not taking itself too seriously. I really only had one problem with the film; it wasn’t very 80s.

            

     The film makes a point to let you know that it’s taking place in the 80s. There is even a discussion about Metallica bassist Jason Newstead replacing the dearly departed Cliff Burton.  The discussion even mentions that the first album with Newstead (which would make that Garage Days Re-Revisited) was dropping in a month which means that the movie takes place in 1987. But beyond that super specific Metallica reference, I don’t know that there is anything else in the film that would have clued you in to the fact that it takes place in the 80s. The costumes are the sort of generic outfits you could see at any hard rock concert 40 years ago or today. The girl’s hair dos are certainly not big enough for the 80s.And other than a prominently featured Heaven Is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle, there is no 80s music! A movie set against the heavy metal scene of the 80s and they couldn’t get one Judas Priest song? No Iron Maiden? Surely if ever a movie warranted Mötley Crüe’s Shout at the Devil it’s this one. I mean, I didn’t expect them to shoot the movie on VHS, but I think the makers missed a real chance to give us some homage/ nostalgia. But se la vie my friend.

            

     The movie definitely leaves the door open for a sequel and I’d watch it just to see what happens with the surviving characters, but if there is a next time, maybe a little more work on making the film feel more retro.