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We Summon the Darkness 2020

Alexis and her friends embark on a road trip fueled by a shared love of heavy metal. A disturbing news story about a series of ritualistic killings captures their attention, leading them to a night of concerts and partying. Their revelry takes a dark turn when they meet three mysterious strangers at the secluded estate of Alexis's father. What begins as an encounter quickly escalates into a terrifying ordeal as the group confronts a descent into supernatural horror and the blurring lines between reality and nightmare.

Alexis and her friends embark on a road trip fueled by a shared love of heavy metal. A disturbing news story about a series of ritualistic killings captures their attention, leading them to a night of concerts and partying. Their revelry takes a dark turn when they meet three mysterious strangers at the secluded estate of Alexis's father. What begins as an encounter quickly escalates into a terrifying ordeal as the group confronts a descent into supernatural horror and the blurring lines between reality and nightmare.

Does We Summon the Darkness have end credit scenes?

No!

We Summon the Darkness does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of We Summon the Darkness

Explore the complete cast of We Summon the Darkness, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for We Summon the Darkness

See how We Summon the Darkness is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where We Summon the Darkness stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

67

We Summon the Darkness delivers stylish period detail and spirited lead performances but is hampered by uneven narrative momentum. The film’s authentic 1980s setting and energetic cast create an engaging surface, yet moments of frenetic editing and shallow plot development undercut sustained engagement. While surprises and retro charm offer intermittent enjoyment, the story’s predictability and pacing issues limit its overall impact. As a result, this unsettling homage entertains in parts but lacks lasting cohesion.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for We Summon the Darkness

78
Echo Score

Art & Craft

In terms of art and craft, the film excels at recreating late-1980s design through detailed costumes, production design, and set pieces. The cinematography captures an authentic metal-era atmosphere, and the period vehicles and costumes enhance visual immersion. However, occasional editing choices feel overly frenetic, creating slight disjunctions. Overall, the strong production values and stylistic attention significantly boost the film’s immersive quality.

72
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

When it comes to character and emotion, the leads deliver compelling, charismatic performances that enliven the material. Alexandra Daddario and Maddie Hasson exhibit dynamic chemistry and energy, while Johnny Knoxville offers welcome support. Despite this strength, several character motivations remain underdeveloped, limiting emotional resonance. Ultimately, the acting is a highlight, though deeper character work would have enhanced engagement.

50
Echo Score

Story & Flow

In terms of story and flow, the film adopts a familiar slasher homage with occasional sly twists and dark humor. The premise yields some suspenseful set pieces, but predictable beats and undercut tension diminish engagement. Several narrative threads feel loosely connected, leaving character intentions unclear and pacing uneven, particularly in the second half. As a result, the story holds interest sporadically but lacks sustained coherence.

75
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

When assessing the sensory experience, the film’s soundtrack of era-appropriate metal tracks effectively reinforces the setting and tonal shifts. Sound design punctuates key horror beats, and the visual style employs a cohesive color palette that evokes neon-tinged rock venues. Production design details—from musical equipment to makeup—maintain consistency. These sensory elements consistently enhance immersion and underscore the film’s period authenticity.

58
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

Regarding rewatch factor, the film offers initial enjoyment through nostalgic nods and strong performances. The retro style and occasional twists provide brief replay appeal for genre enthusiasts. However, the thin narrative structure, lack of sustained tension, and uneven pacing reduce incentive for repeat viewings. Consequently, while parts remain entertaining, the film’s modest depth limits its lasting rewatch value.

Metacritic

55

Metascore

4.7

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

68%

TOMATOMETER

review

34%

User Score

TMDB

54

%

User Score

Letterboxd

2.5

From 5 fan ratings

Movie Insider

3.00/5

From 3 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate We Summon the Darkness Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of We Summon the Darkness with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


We Summon the Darkness Quiz: Test your knowledge of the dark and twisted events in 'We Summon the Darkness'.

Where does the movie take place?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for We Summon the Darkness

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Read the complete plot summary of We Summon the Darkness, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In the scorching summer of 1988, three friends—Alexis Butler, Val, and Bev—set off for a heavy metal concert in Indiana. Their carefree adventure takes a bizarre twist when a milkshake is flung from a mysterious blue van, splattering their windshield. Upon arriving at the concert, they encounter an unsettling sense of déjà vu as the same van reappears, its occupants eager for interaction. Val, always the thrill-seeker, decides to escalate the night’s tension by igniting a firecracker, thus coaxing three boys—Ivan, Kovacs, and Mark—from their vehicle, who is on his way to Los Angeles.

As the night unfolds, Alexis invites the group back to her father’s vacant mansion, where the ambiance takes a dark turn. While Bev and Mark appear to be connecting, a sense of tension lingers as Bev purposefully keeps her distance from him. The evening spirals into madness as the girls devise a lethal game of Never Have I Ever, spiking their guests’ drinks in a deadly plot to claim them.

The sinister organization known as the Daughters of the Dawn, with which Alexis is entangled, has already claimed eighteen lives in horrific manners. As night progresses, Ivan criticizes Alexis’s extremist religious views, leading her to a violent explosion of rage where she fatally stabs him.

Meanwhile, Mark and Kovacs attempt to evade their would-be assassins, finding refuge in a pantry as they plot their escape. Their short-lived safety is shattered when Susan, Alexis’s soon-to-be ex-stepmother, comes home to witness the bloody horror unfolding. In a chilling event, she discovers Ivan’s corpse, only to meet her grisly fate at Alexis’s hands.

As the chaos escalates, police begin to converge on the scene, and Alexis makes a frantic getaway, pursued by an officer keen on uncovering the truth. Seizing the moment, Val takes down her pursuer, seizing his weapon and ending his life in a brutal act.

As the dust begins to settle, Bev steps in, wielding an electric outboard trolling motor as a warning to her companions. The usually loyal pair of Alexis and Val find themselves at odds over what to do next, but it’s clear both are determined to complete their twisted plan to the bitter end. As Bev confronts a moral crossroads, she realizes that she cannot condone the murder of innocent men. In a dramatic standoff, she forces her friends to reconsider their actions, ultimately deciding to release Mark and Kovacs.

As Kovacs’s condition deteriorates, Bev races to keep him alive and secure a way to a hospital. Mark embarks on a desperate search for car keys, eventually obtaining them from Alexis, but not without a fierce confrontation that leaves both injured. The turmoil reaches new heights when Val directs her aggression toward Bev, launching a savage attack that ends only when Bev retaliates by igniting Val’s hairspray-soaked hair, setting her ablaze.

Amidst the chaos, Kovacs catches sight of John Henry Butler, Alexis’s father and the Daughters of the Dawn pastor, and rushes outside to confront him. This encounter leads to Kovacs being shot, sending him crashing back into the house, where Bev finds him barely clinging to life as he pleads for her to save Mark.

The struggle continues, and John Henry turns his fury on Mark, shooting him and then chastising Alexis for her failures. He insists that sacrifices must be made to escape the peril she created, even attempting to strangle her. However, Bev intervenes, striking John Henry down. A deranged Alexis then confronts Bev in a fierce fight but ultimately succumbs to her own recklessness, plunging out a window, leaving a surviving Mark to flee with Bev.

As they escape together, their path is abruptly interrupted by a relentless Alexis, who meets her end in a gruesome reckoning at Bev’s hands. In the aftermath, John Henry feigns injury, crafting a deceptive tale of his daughter succumbing to dark temptations and joining a satanic cult. With their troubles concealed behind them, Bev and Mark embark on an uncertain journey into the unknown, forever changed by the night’s horrific events.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

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Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for We Summon the Darkness

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from We Summon the Darkness. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

UK Trailer

Official International Trailer

Cars Featured in We Summon the Darkness

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Explore all cars featured in We Summon the Darkness, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


AMC

1981

Concord

Dodge

1973

Charger

Dodge

1979

Dodge Van

Ford

LTD Crown Victoria

Jaguar

1982

Vanden Plas Series III

Jeep

1997

Cherokee

Mercedes-Benz

300 SD W116

Pontiac

1985

Parisienne

We Summon the Darkness Other Names and Titles

Explore the various alternative titles, translations, and other names used for We Summon the Darkness across different regions and languages. Understand how the film is marketed and recognized worldwide.


La invocación 我们召唤黑暗 Мы призываем тьму L'evocazione - We Summon the Darkness Ми закликаємо темряву Lạc Vào Bóng Đêm 위 섬온 더 다크니스 Estranha Escuridão サモン・ザ・ダークネス 我們召喚黑暗 אנחנו מזמנים את החושך

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