There was a lot going on in the '80s. Music, specifically, reached monumental new heights throughout this era. The launch of MTV in 1981 revolutionized how music was consumed by the public, and a variety of genres started expanding into thrilling new territories. Rock music, in particular, was one that really broadened during this time period. Heavy metal started to gain momentum, with subgenres such as glam metal skyrocketing to popularity via groups like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Poison. Other subsets soon branched from the heavy metal tree, further expanding upon the genre and developing a burgeoning underground music scene. Unfortunately, not everyone was all aboard this crazy train that metalheads came to call home. Throughout the '80s, the evangelical church often attempted to link rock music, heavy metal especially, to the occult, a paranoia that would eventually be coined "Satanic Panic". Marc Meyers' latest feature derives inspiration from this period of time, poking fun at the church's obsession with stoking the public's fear of heavy metal and satan worshipping. We Summon The Darkness is a wickedly fun and delightfully devilish thrill ride led by electric performances from Alexandra Daddario and Maddie Hasson.
At the core of this story is Alexis (Daddario) and her two best friends, Val (Hasson) and Bev (Amy Forsyth). The three leather-clad ladies are en route to a Soldiers of Satan show at a small-town bar, looking to meet cute boys and thrash with their fellow metalheads. However, breaking through amidst the radio's blaring tunes, an announcer reveals that a string of murders tied to devil-worshipping cultists have been rampantly taking place across the country, further encouraging individuals to be aware of stranger danger. Even so, in their naivety, the girls brush off this news and return their focus back on the exciting concert in their future.
Along the way, the trio collides with three fellow metal buffs and aspiring musicians -- Mark (Keean Johnson), Kovacs (Logan Miller), and Ivan (Austin Swift) -- heading to the exact same show. Naturally, after bonding over PBR's and Soldiers of Satan, they all decide to continue the party afterward at Alexis's father's home nearby. Unfortunately, their night of reckless debauchery takes a turn for the worse over a seemingly simple game of "Never Have I Ever", setting this thrilling narrative in motion as these devious headbangers go runnin' with the devil.
We Summon The Darkness relishes in subverting viewer's expectations, and it's all the more successful for doing so. Alan Trezza's script feels refreshing and exhilarating, especially when gender roles are consistently reversed throughout the narrative. On top of that, the story is further bolstered by exceptional performances, especially from two of its leading ladies. Daddario and Hasson are intoxicating and joyfully charismatic in their respective roles. They savor every second that they have on-screen, creating infectious personalities that will leave you begging for more from them by the end of it all. Even Johnny Knoxville, who briefly appears as a self-righteous televangelist pastor, manages to be memorable enough in a performance that certainly lies outside of his usual wheelhouse.
As for the rest of the cast, though bubbling over with an abundance of chemistry at the beginning, don't quite reach the same heights as Daddario and Hasson. Forsyth's Bev is occasionally pushed to the wayside in favor of her captivating counterparts, along with the three eager-to-please fellas that jump in on the afterparty fun. The film also has moments bogged down by a male gaze. Despite asserting strong feminist undertones, especially with the vast array of scenes involving flipped gender norms, unnecessary close-ups and sexual one-liners feel out-of-place amidst the chaotic backdrop and feisty femme atmosphere.
However, these moments are few and far between, and the film's joyfully insane narrative takes precedence in the end. With Daddario and Hasson taking the reins for the majority of its runtime, We Summon The Darkness reaches exciting new heights with each scene, especially when the girls lean in to their respective crazed personalities. It's clear that the two of them relished in these roles, proving that their range extends well beyond what most audiences may be familiar with. These energetic performances also far outweigh the film's pitfalls, making it a memorable and thrilling midnight feature. We Summon The Darkness ropes viewers in from the get-go, promising nothin' but a good time the whole way through. And really, how could one resist?
We Summon The Darkness is now available on-demand and digitally. It is 83 minutes long and rated R for bloody violence, pervasive language, some drug use, and sexual references.