Alexandra Daddario makes satanic ritual sacrifice bloody good fun
Image: Photo: Saban Films
The condemned: We Summon The Darkness (2019)
The plot: There’s been a burst of satanic panic-themed horror films over the past few years. From The Devil’s Candy to A Dark Song to, well, Satanic Panic, these movies play on the tropes and concepts that first came to national consciousness during the panic of the ’80s, when a wave of sensationalist media and conservative conspiracy theorists started pushing the idea that secret Satan-worshipping cults throughout the country were preying on America’s youth. It was horseshit, of course, but the upside is that it’s inspired some damn fine horror. And We Summon The Darkness, this month’s Home Video Hell entry, doesn’t just embrace that source material: It gives it a soft, warm kiss, right before swiftly flicking its wrist and using the knife hidden in its sleeve to open up a vein and release an arterial spray of blood.
The movie follows a trio of women in 1987 Indiana, en route to a concert by one of their favorite metal bands. There’s group leader Alexis (Alexandra Daddario), party girl Val (Maddie Hasson), and shy newcomer to the trio, Bev (Amy Forsyth). You know this is a horror movie because while driving, they hear a news report about yet another satanic ritual murder that’s befallen a group of young people, part of a rash of such killings nationwide. (There’s also the requisite “old gas station attendant warning them to be careful,” one of my favorite horror clichés.) At the concert, they stumble upon a group of buddies who earlier passed them on the road, a former rock band having one last celebratory trip before their drummer Mark (Keean Johnson) leaves his bandmates Ivan (Austin Swift) and Kovacs (Logan Miller) behind for Los Angeles. The six quickly bond, and Alexis invites them all to continue the party back at her dad’s country house a short distance away. The night doesn’t go as planned.
This is the part where I tell you that if this film sounds at all up your alley, now is the time to stop reading and go watch it before we get to the spoilers—because there’s a twist coming, and it’s a good one. (We Summon The Darkness is available to buy or rent on all major streaming services.) From here on out, the rest of the film’s plot will be recounted in detail, and there’s a lot to like, so anyone who doesn’t enjoy knowing the story ahead of time, caveat lector.
Okay! Now that those people are gone, here’s the wicked fun move this film makes. If you’ve seen A Perfect Getaway, you know what’s coming: Despite our having spent the first third of the film with them, it turns out the women are the killers, who plan to drug and then murder the guys in front of pentagrams, upside-down crosses, the whole checklist of satanic panic accouterments. Our ostensible protagonists are actually members of a cult-like Christian congregation, one that came up with the plan to carry out these satanic-inspired murders as a means of driving the rest of a now-terrified population into the welcoming arms of the church. (The satan-occult stuff is mere window dressing; as Alexis explains to the guys, “It’s all just a giant crock of shit to me.”) In these brainwashed young women’s minds, they’re saving souls—the greater good, and all that. And Alexis’ dad (Johnny Knoxville) is the slick televangelist responsible for it all.
Unfortunately for them, the guys don’t really want to participate. After Alexis quickly kills Ivan, Mark and Kovacs break free and barricade themselves in the pantry, and the second act quickly turns into Panic Room. Bev is dispatched to the tool shed to find a means of breaking down the door, but instead discovers the good preacher is running a massive scam, embezzling the funds donated to his church to finance his lavish lifestyle. It’s enough to change her mind: While an escalating series of arrivals threatens to derail the girls’ plan (Alexis’ stepmom arrives at home, followed later by a police officer), Bev abandons the scheme. Already wavering on the whole “let’s murder in Christ’s name” thing, Bev turns on her friends, teaming up with Mark and Kovacs to escape Alexis and Val’s clutches. The final act is the showdown, as Alexis and Val (who hold the keys to the only working automobile) stalk and threaten the others throughout the house, and the good reverend shows up to discover what a hash has been made of his sinister plan.
Over-the-top box copy: In the current era of who-knows-when-this-shit-will-end, there doesn’t appear to be any pull quotes yet in the promotional materials, just a poster/presumable blu-ray cover that bears the tagline, “Let us prey”—which is, of course, also the name of a horror movie, from 2014. (It stars Game Of Thrones’ Davos Seaworth himself, Liam Cunningham. I have no idea if it’s any good. I do know there is zero chance it is more entertaining than We Summon The Darkness.)
The descent: Aside from the fact that I’m always up for a good dose of Satan worship in my horror movies, I think it’s way past time Alexandra Daddario got credit for being a solid actor. She’s been unfairly lumped into the category of “stereotypically attractive person who is sufficiently talented to also be in movies, but the main job is the attractive thing,” and Hollywood’s focus on her sex appeal does a great disservice to her. She’s obviously interested in more than just lunkheaded roles in pablum like San Andreas and Baywatch (it must be fun to work with The Rock, though)—and more importantly, she’s clearly savvy about the world of horror, and is a regular presence in it. One of her first leading roles was in the compelling slasher-meets-soap experiment Bereavement, and she’s returned to the genre numerous times, albeit with some better results than others. Daddario’s done excellent work in series like True Detective and Why Women Kill, and dammit, she deserves recognition. (Plus, she’s funny: Check out her episode of Rob Huebel’s Do You Want To See A Dead Body?) Long story short, I would watch this movie regardless, but Daddario is the draw. (Counterpoint: Our film editor A.A. Dowd heard me extolling her talents as an actor, and replied, “If you say so.”)
The theoretically heavenly talent: I believe I just expounded at length on this subject, but it’s also fun seeing Johnny Knoxville pop up in this thing, doing a rare straight-man role. It’s not a big part, but he underplays it nicely.