Film Review: We Summon the Darkness (2019)

SYNOPSIS:

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 a party suddenly turns dark and deadly in this devilishly entertaining thriller.

REVIEW:

Directed by: Marc Meyers

Written by: Alan Trezza

WE SUMMON THE DARKNESS stars Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch, San Andreas), Johnny Knoxville (Bad Grandpa, Jackass), Keean Johnson (Midway), Maddie Hasson (“Impulse”), Logan Miller (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse), Amy Forsyth (Hell Fest) and Austin Swift (Live by Night).  The film is directed by Marc Meyers (My Friend Dahmer) from a script by Alan Trezza (Burying the Ex).

A group of girls traveling in a car. They are funny and talking about guys and funny stuff. Everyone has to pee. Typical, I get it. The creepiness has already kicked in. A dude watching the girls at the gas station but he has a family. Johnny Knoxville is playing Pastor John Henry Butler. He spreads the word on the TV in the gas station.

(I am already nervous and this movie barely started. This reminds me of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the films where the kind or crazy gas station folks try to warn them and they totally ignore the advice. GO BACK, DON’T PASS GO! They are heading to a heavy metal concert – Dead Cross, Mr. Bungle? No. I am the only one that wants to go.

Val (Maddie Hasson), Alexis (Alexandra Daddario), and Bev (Amy Forsyth) are heading to this heavy metal concert and nothing is going right. Maybe it was a sign from the rock n roll gods? They arrive. Its wild. Scalpers, wild fun fans, its all they could imagine. We can’t forget the “Jesus Saves” protestors. This stood out because I’ve actually seen this in real life so.

They mess with the guys who threw a milkshake at their car window. They decide to get the guys back. Ivan, Mark and Kovacs played by Logan Miller, Austin Swift, and Keenan Johnson. The guys have a band too. “Rock N Roll” man! (This is good because I’ve been in parking lots, hanging with friends and talking music.

The girls brought the boys back and they are the girls are out to make a few sacrifices. The calm, slow build up is good so far. It is a different movie. Alexandra Daddario does such a good job in this movie. It almost feels these girls are Billy and Stu from Scream. The guys try to run, they lock themselves in a room, well a pantry. It also feels a little bit similar to The Craft.

These guys are in trouble. The ladies are causing so much chaos. The girls found something to spray under the door. This is insanity. Uh-Oh, a car pulled up. The step-mom comes home. BUSTED, or not. She has a problem of her own. This sacrifice is going badly. Now, the girls are trying to start them on fire. The stepmom, Susan (Allison McAtee) called the cops, she thought someone was robbing the house.

Now the cops show up, well, okay one cop. You know how it goes. Tanner Beard is playing the brave Sheriff Dembrowski. He wasn’t helpful at all. Bev shows up, LEATHERFACE style and is mad. She doesn’t want any part of this. The guys want to go out fighting. This whole sacrifice is turning out bad. Bev is trying to end this and the guys are trying to escape.

And here comes the music, Belinda Carlisle’s, Heaven Is a Place on Earth starts blaring, they apparently took notes during, The Strangers: Prey at Night. The other ladies turned the lights out in the house now. No one has a flashlight? Come on! You’re Next, Last House on the Left, Scream, The Purge. This movie is good. It has a slasher feel, psychological aspects and Johnny Knoxville is a Pastor. He is calm, cool, and collected. He shows up and he doesn’t seem trustworthy either.

“I’m the wrath of god.” WOW! This just gets worse, tense and stressful. In a good way. The front door seems to be open, why don’t they leave. Go scream outside, get help. Get out of there. The physical scenes and the effects are great. Alexis tries to blame her father. Okay, the last ones standing need to get out of that house. Make sure to check out We Summon the Darkness.