Friday, May 8, 2020

WE SUMMON THE DARKNESS (2020)



Directed By: Marc Meyers 
Written By: Alan Trezza 
Cinematography: Tarin Anderson 
Editor: Jamie Kirkpatrick & Joe Murphy 

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

Set in the Midwest against a backdrop involving a killing spree thought to be orchestrated by a satanic cult. Three best friends embark on a road trip to a heavy-metal show, where they bond with three aspiring musicians and head off to one of the girls' country home for an after party. A night of fun and youthful debauchery takes a deadly turn as bodies begin to pile up, with each side thinking the other hides the killer.

This is a good 1980’s horror comedy homage. That feels like a product of the time period while basking in the culture of the times but not going overboard to remind us of the time period we are in.

It has the hot teenage girls who are sexy but seem shy and seem to have a good head on their shoulders when it comes to guys. Meeting a group of guys who are hoping to hook up after a concert at a kind of rendezvous. So it feels like the plot of a teen horror or sex comedy. While the whole Satanic cult and preachers against it are in the background to bring us somewhat into the time Period and culture.

The film is pretty cut and dry and after awhile you can easily figure out where it is going but luckily it stays inventive and keeps your interest as it goes along.

The film never quite reaches the promise you hope it has. As again there are no real scares not too many shocks. The deaths are kind of macabre but don’t feel like anything special.

As if the film Kept more to the premise or log line it would have been an interesting mystery. Which I thought was the route it was going but once it reveals it’s true purpose. It was obvious, as that can be the only way for this movie to make any sense after a certain point The film does manage to make the relationships/friendships feel like a true bond and the characters experiencing true loss and reacting to it. Though Alexandra’s character is the leader. we see the cracks In her armor before more towards the end become More unhinged and seemingly an unstoppable evil.

Though that’s what called for, it makes what came before between the female characters that sense of bonding and adventure on a road trip all but forgotten as that is how we are introduced to them. The film never revealed their true intentions to us. So that once all is revealed it feels more like an act that was played on the audience. Rather then something more natural between the characters.

The film Also seems to stand a middle ground. As it is never too horrifying, shocking or funny. All those qualities the film. Seems to hint at but never quite have in abundance.

Just as when characters keep showing up that seem like they will be salvation or back up trouble for the characters. They are usually quickly Dispatched and more obviously there so that the film can have a bigger body count. Rather then have any real reason to be there.

The film never becomes quite as exciting or fun as the material hints at therefore never quite deciding on an exact tone. It tries to show a cleverness at first then seems to run out of it after awhile like a person who thinks up a great opening line in conversation but then struggles to maintain through the rest of the conversation.

The film Does manage to keep your interest while it goes along and even for a horror film it is fun. Not over the top fun but mostly a good time as You watch.

Grade: C+

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