We Summon the Darkness (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily in Indiana, where the friends begin their road trip, and at a secluded estate in Los Angeles where the horror unfolds. Indiana serves as the vibrant starting point reflecting the heavy metal music culture of 1988, while the isolated mansion in LA becomes the terrifying setting where the group's night takes a dark turn.

• indiana
• los angeles
• mansion
• setting
• estate

The film is set during the summer of 1988, a notable era in American pop culture defined by the rise of heavy metal music and youthful rebellious spirit. This specific time period emphasizes the carefree party culture of the era, where the lines between fun and danger were often blurred among young people.

• 1988
• summer
• time period
• 80s
• heavy metal era

We Summon the Darkness explores three major themes: violence, which examines the dark sides of human nature and how easily fun can turn deadly; betrayal, showing how friendships become fragile when survival instincts conflict with loyalty; and religious extremism, demonstrating how dangerous beliefs can corrupt relationships and lead to manipulation and violence.

• themes
• violence
• betrayal
• religious extremism

The Daughters of the Dawn is a religious cult led by John Henry Butler, Alexis's father. The group represents dangerous religious extremism, using twisted interpretations of faith to justify violent actions and manipulate followers. Alexis's involvement with this cult amplifies the stakes throughout the story as her relationships become corrupted by the group's fanatic ideology.

• daughters of the dawn
• cult
• religious extremism
• John Henry Butler

Alexis Butler, played by Alexandra Daddario, is a conflicted character torn between her extremist beliefs rooted in the Daughters of the Dawn cult and her friendships. She evolves from appearing carefree to becoming a menacing figure whose dark side is revealed through the cult's toxic influence, ultimately facing serious consequences for her actions.

• alexis butler
• Alexandra Daddario
• character
• cult

John Henry Butler, played by Johnny Knoxville, is a pastor and the leader of the Daughters of the Dawn cult. He embodies tyrannical authority wrapped in religious fervor, using a twisted perception of faith to justify violent actions and manipulate those around him. His character serves as the primary catalyst for the chaos and horror that unfolds.

• johnny knoxville
• john henry butler
• pastor
• cult leader
• antagonist

Heavy metal music is central to the film's identity, with the story driven by characters who share a deep love for the genre. The summer 1988 heavy metal concert scene represents the carefree, rebellious youth culture that exists before the horror begins. The music serves as both a cultural anchor for the time period and a contrast to the dark events that follow.

• heavy metal
• music
• concerts
• 1980s
• road trip

Beverly, played by Amy Forsyth, is depicted as the moral center among the trio of friends. She struggles with inner conflict, torn between loyalty to her friends and her growing awareness of the horror unfolding around her. Her character arc emphasizes the tension between camaraderie and ethical boundaries as she faces difficult choices.

• beverly
• amy forsyth
• character
• moral center

Val, played by Maddie Hasson, is characterized as the thrill-seeker whose impulsive nature escalates the tension throughout the night. Her reckless actions and desire for excitement put herself and her friends in danger, embodying how unchecked impulses and indulgence can lead to violent consequences.

• val
• maddie hansson
• character
• thrill seeker
• impulsive

We Summon the Darkness is classified as a Horror-Comedy-Thriller with heavy metal elements. The film combines a predominantly dark tone driven by murderous religious fanaticism and brutal betrayal with moments of dark levity characteristic of the horror-comedy genre. The story is straightforward and linear, focusing on survival against a clear antagonist.

• horror
• comedy
• thriller
• genre
• tone