‘Let us prey’
We Summon the Darkness is a 2019 American horror film about three female heavy metal fans who become involved with satanist killers.
Directed by Marc Meyers (My Friend Dahmer) from a screenplay written by Alan Trezza (Burying the Ex), the movie stars Alexandra Daddario (Night Hunter; Burying the Ex; Texas Chainsaw 3D), Keean Johnson (Spooksville series), Johnny Knoxville and Maddie Hasson (Malignant; Grimm TV series).
Plot:
In 1988, a killing spree by murderous Satanists has already led to eighteen deaths throughout America’s heartland. Three best friends Alexis (Alexandra Daddario), Val (Maddie Hasson) and Beverly (Amy Forsyth) embark on a road trip to a heavy metal music festival.
Naive, they bond with three seemingly fun-loving dudes and soon the group heads off to Alexis’ country home, a very secluded place, for an afterparty. What should be a night of fun and youthful debauchery may instead take a dark, deadly turn…
Reviews:
“The film is propelled by a confident lead performance from Alexandra Daddario […] it’s the best Satanic Panic-inspired horror movie I have seen this year, and there have been several.” AV Club
“Ultimately, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel or present anything we haven’t seen before, but it’s so damn fun that it’s hardly a flaw. It’s a throwback horror comedy that offers up just enough surprises and a pair of scene-stealing performances by Hasson and Daddario…” Bloody Disgusting
” …of all the mainstream slasher horrors out there, this one is a little refreshing, as it seemingly takes chances to present something off the books. Beneath all of its gore and violence, is a mildly intriguing sense of intelligence that may appeal to some viewers.” The Cinemaholic
There are fun actors like Alexandra Daddario and Logan Miller here, yet they are squandered on a script desperately in search of a pulse […] I genuinely have no idea what’s intended to be entertaining about We Summon the Darkness. Heavy metal hijinks featuring next to no heavy metal? Embarrassingly unfunny jokes? Some blood splashed around during chaotic commotion?” Culture Crypt
” …this is one of those films seasoned horror connoisseurs can safely give a miss to, while simultaneously recommending it to friends and relatives who fancy a bit of old-fashioned TV movie-style suspense and are probably the audience this one’s aimed at anyway.” House of Mortal Cinema
” …the film rather rushes through a tangle of plot, with one notably poor CGI effect spoiling a key character’s fate. Marc Meyers made the rather thoughtful My Friend Dahmer and carries over some serious concerns into this more knockabout effort, which stumbles a little but has many outrageous comic/horrific moments and certainly allows Alexandra Daddario what ought to be a signature role.” The Kim Newman Web Site
“We Summon The Darkness ultimately takes the main stage as a headlining act bathed in tainted blood, light beers, and fangs-out maliciousness. The hard sell of “heavy metal horror” may be a smidge ambitious, but it’s rarely an issue […] It’s full of amplified unhallowed fun and fiendish shocks in the name of rock n’ roll…” /Film
” …We Summon The Darkness is a lot of fun. The pace is fast and there’s plenty of blood. Between the main characters and some unfortunate souls who stop by at the wrong time, there’s plenty of victims. The big twists aren’t all that surprising, but it doesn’t really matter. Once the first one falls the second is pretty much a given.” Voices from the Balcony
Release:
We Summon the Darkness premiered at the Fantastic Fest on September 21, 2019. Saban Films released the film on VOD and Digital HD on April 10th 2020.
Cast and characters:
Alexandra Daddario … Alexis; Keean Johnson … Mark; Johnny Knoxville … Pastor John Henry Butler; Maddie Hasson … Val
Logan Miller … Kovacs; Amy Forsyth … Bev; Allison McAtee … Susan; Austin Swift … Ivan; Stephanie Moroz … Reporter; Dennis Scullard … Desperate Concert Goer; Tanner Beard … Sheriff Dembrowski; Erik Athavale … Religious Freak; Greg Strempler … Picture vehicle coordinator; Fletcher Nathan Michael Fletcher … Metal Head; Carlo Harrietha … Head Butting Metal Head
Filming locations:
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Technical details:
1 hour 31 minutes
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Trailer:
Clips:
