Introduction
Marc Meyers directed the slasher and horror-thriller We Summon the Darkness which was released in 2019. The movie was written by Alan Trezza and starred Alexandra Daddario, Maddie Hasson, and Johnny Knoxville. The movie uses slasher tropes infused with psychological elements to keep the movie interesting through its twists and turns. The film’s portrayals of manipulation, fanaticism, and survival are enriched by dark comedic elements as well, in true Meyers form.
Plot Summary
The movie features a storyline set in the 1980s and is about three girls, Alexis, Val, and Beverly, who set out on a road trip for a heavy metal concert. Alexis and Val are portrayed by Alexandra Daddario and Maddie Hasson respectively while Amy Forsyth stars as Beverly. On their route, they meet three boys who are passionate about metal as well, Mark, Kovacs, and Ivan, played by Keean Johnson, Logan Miller, and Austin Swift. The group forms a close connection as they all enjoy the scene and the works of each other. After the concert, Alexis offers her family’s secluded house for an after party which is thrilling to the young men.
What appears at first to be a night of partying and flirting takes an unexpected dark twist. The film has created the expectation that through news reports of a string of cult murders in the area, the young women might be in danger. The movie, however, defies expectations when it is revealed that rather than Alexis and her friends being the targets, they are in fact the ones doing the murdering.
Alexis’ father (Johnny Knoxville) leads a radical Christian cult of which she is a part of, committing those murders to make it look like the work of a Satanist. Their ideal is to instill mass hysteria in order to boost the church’s power by terrifying people with heavy metal music. When their plan is set in motion, the male victims fight back leading to a violent showdown.
Now, let us talk about the girls. Girls, because that is how they treat themselves. Everything stems from a feminine weakness, something Alexandra Daddario portrays beautifully. It is her who shines in the movie. Her standout performance is Alexis. She starts off as charming and lavishing but smoothly transforms into a deranged villain who poses a threat with every word she utters.
Maddie Hasson, as Val, injects comic relief through her animalistic reckless behavior. While her character is dark, it is the character’s heightened enthusiasm that makes it somewhat enjoyable. Amy Forsyth’s Beverly is also remarkable. Forsyth, being the most nuanced of the three girls, surely did give depth to her role. Therefore, her character arc is one of the most interesting in the film.
But the male cast does have Austin Swift, Keean Johnson, Logan Miller and they do well playing the unsuspecting victims who have to adapt quickly when the tables are turned. Knowing they are being held captive adds a whole level of tension onto the film, which the male actors performance manage to get across,
One of the more surprising aspects of Johnny Knoxville is his sinister side is very well showcased in his portrayal of Alexis’ father, the cult leader. Although he does not have much screen time, he is certainly one of the best cult leaders as his part adds so much reverence to the film’s thoughts on religious extremism.
Direction and Cinematography
In this retro horror thriller, Marc Meyers is the director and focuses on the 1980s. The music selection and set design made it effortless to set the time period. Tarin Anderson’s cinematography also provides a great deal of suspense by keeping rooms dimly lit, and focusing on close up shots, which adds a feeling of claustrophobia and danger.
Meyer keeps the balance between horror and dark comedy ensuring that the film does not get too serious. The pacing is tight as the unfolding of the story is swift and keeps the audience at the edge of their seats while also considering character development.
Themes and Symbolism
We Summon the Darkness delves into topics such as extreme religious devotion and media manipulation, and moral hypocrisy. The film illustrates how fear and false information can be misused and highlights the critiques, “We summon the Darkness” is able to portray. Instead of women being the victims of the horror, they very much take on the role of aggressors, flipping the entire narrative onto its head.
It also satirizes the moral panic that stemmed from the rise of heavy metal music during the late 1980’s, when many right-wing activists erroneously accused metal bands of Satanism. This hysteria gave birth to the theory that these powerful dancing and screaming men with long hair were possessed. We Summon the Darkness uses these theories to exemplify how control can be gained through fear-mongering.
Critical Reception and IMDb Ratings
“We summon the Darkness” received moderately positive reviews from many critics. Most praised the clever twists the engaging performances retro horror feel. However, some critics noted that the film could have been executed in a sharper way especially towards the end.
On IMDb, the film is rated somewhere in the middle due to the nature of its reception. Few viewers enjoyed the dark humor and subversion of genres, while others thought there was not enough value provided to accomplish its charm.
Strengths
✅ Unexpected Plot Twists – The film successfully surprises and captures the attention of the audience with its uno reverse plot moves.
✅ Strong Performances – Alexandra Daddario was astonishing in her performance, with the rest of the supporting cast bringing extra spice and humor to the show.
✅ 80s Aesthetic and Soundtrack – This nostalgic film instantly compliments itself because of its setting and music.
✅ Blend of Horror and Dark Comedy – The movie is at the same time fun and scary without being too cheerful or too dark.
Final Thoughts
We Summon the Darkness is an enjoyable horror thriller that flips the expectations of the genre upside down. Its impressive plot twists, strong performances, and good laughs go together to make a comedic horror that is full of suspense. Although it is not a revolutionary horror film, it does prove to be engaging enough to keep the audience satisfied.
We Summon the Darkness is a compelling recommendation for an admirer of horror with elements of comedy and psychological thrillers. While this may not be the most terrifying picture out there, the interesting setting and the captivating acting add to its impressive repertoire in the contemporary horror scene.
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