By Kurt Jensen
NEW YORK (CNS) — “We Summon the Darkness” (Saban, streaming on Amazon Prime) bills itself as a low-budget Satan-worship-themed slasher film with a bit of an homage to 1980s horror movies thrown into the mix. But, in fact, it’s more of a mystery.
The mystery being: How exactly did this picture, devoid of coherent dialogue or action and punctuated by desultory stabbings and fleeting theological proclamations, ever get made?
Small budgets are one thing. But all director Marc Meyers and screenwriter Alan Trezza deliver is a lot of cursing, yelling and running around a couple of claustrophobic rooms. They do seem to have had the dollars for some blood to splash around, however.
Three rebellious girls in 1988 Indiana — Alexis (Alexandra Daddario), Val (Maddie Hasson) and Bev (Amy Forsyth) — busy themselves indulging in teen rituals of beer drinking while on a road trip to see a heavy metal concert. After arriving, they flirt with Ivan (Austin Swift), Kovacs (Logan Miller) and Mark (Keean Johnson).
The lads have pot in their van, beer in their cooler and presumably — since one of them claims to be in a band — a song in their hearts. As an era marker, an argument breaks out over the virtues of KC and the Sunshine Band. That would have been more characteristic of the 1970s, but OK.
Alexis’ dad is Pastor Butler (Johnny Knoxville), who believes, avidly, that rock ‘n’ roll can steal your soul. For her part, Alexis wears an upside-down crucifix, hinting at bad events ahead.
The girls bring the boys to Alexis’ house, where they tie them up, and proceed to make vague and not-so-vague threats about sacrificing them. Amid the mayhem and the flying cutlery, there’s a great deal of random shouting and a supposed plot twist involving Pastor Butler. Like the sound and fury that surround it, however, this ultimately signifies nothing.
The film contains an occult theme, knife and gun violence with some gore, scenes of drug use and pervasive rough and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Jensen is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.