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We Summon the Darkness (2019) movie poster

Timeline

We Summon the Darkness (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 91 mins · English
Echo score 59
JustWatch #5,621 9
Directed by
Marc Meyers
Starring
Tanner Beard, Johnny Knoxville, Amy Forsyth, Alexandra Daddario, Dennis Scullard, Derek James Trapp

Three best friends find themselves in a terrifying situation after attending a heavy-metal concert. They are invited to an after-party at a remote country home, but the event takes a dark turn when they encounter sadistic killers. What begins as a celebration quickly descends into a fight for survival as the friends must confront a deadly threat.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like We Summon the Darkness
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch We Summon the Darkness (2019)

Where can you watch We Summon the Darkness? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Fawesome, Fandango at Home Free and Plex: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 events in order · contains spoilers

We Summon the Darkness Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of We Summon the Darkness (2019) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Girls head to heavy metal concert

    In 1988, Alexis, Valerie, and Beverly set out for a concert by Soldiers of Satan. On the way, they overhear news reports about a series of murders linked to a satanic cult, and Pastor John Henry Butler blames heavy metal music for the killings.

    When
    1988
  2. Incidents at the concert venue

    The girls arrive at the concert and are targeted when a milkshake is thrown at their windshield. They retaliate by throwing a firecracker into a van belonging to some boys, leading to mutual apologies and the groups bonding over drinks while watching the concert.

    Where
    concert venue
  3. Campfire and playful confessions

    After the concert, the group gathers around a campfire, playing 'Never Have I Ever'. Alexis admits to drugging the boys, but this leads to them passing out mysteriously, revealing something more sinister is about to unfold.

    Where
    campfire
  4. Girls reveal their cult and murder plans

    The girls, part of a cult, tie up the boys and confess that they are tasked with killing worshippers of Satan as part of a ritual cycle. Alexis kills Ivan after he exposes their true motives, escalating the danger.

    Where
    countryside/remote location
  5. Conflict and revelation

    Bev persuades Alexis and Valerie to let her take part in the next murder. Meanwhile, Mark and Kovacs manage to escape and hide in the wine cellar. Alexis wounds Kovacs in a struggle, revealing the chaos engulfing them.

    Where
    wine cellar
  6. Discovery of Susan’s death

    Alexis’s stepmom Susan arrives to drop off something and, suspecting something is wrong, stumbles upon Ivan’s corpse. Alexis, panicked, kills her before she can realize the full extent of the cult’s crimes.

    Where
    Alexis’s home
  7. Attempted arrest and shooting

    Sheriff Dembrowski arrives responding to Susan’s call. Mark and Kovacs try to explain to him about the girls’ murders, but Val shoots and kills the sheriff in a shocking act of violence, escalating the chaos.

    Where
    Alexis’s home
  8. Bev’s defection and reveal of cult leader

    Bev confronts her friends, revealing that their cult leader, Butler, is her father and that he is embezzling donations. She attempts to free the two boys, signaling her breaking away from the murderous scheme.

    Where
    house
  9. Butler’s arrival and violence

    Butler returns home and shoots Kovacs. A fight ensues with Bev fighting Butler and Alexis attacking Mark. Bev then knocks out Butler but gets attacked as well, leading to chaos within the house.

    Where
    house
  10. Climactic chaos and Alexis’s fall

    The struggle culminates with Alexis falling out a window after being attacked. Bev helps Mark escape, but Alexis, wounded and limping, is hit by Bev with a car afterwards, ending her life.

    Where
    road outside the house
  11. Aftermath and media report

    Bev and Mark drive away after the chaos. At a convenience store, Bev watches news reports blaming the murders on Alexis and the cult called 'We Summon The Darkness'. She warns the cashier to beware of trusting everything shown.

    Where
    convenience store
  12. Continuing the cover-up

    While continuing their escape, Bev and Mark reflect on the chaos left behind and the cult’s manipulations. Bev’s warning about trusting appearances hints at ongoing deception and her own complicity.

    Where
    moving vehicle

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:12

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Timeline questions answered

We Summon the Darkness Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of We Summon the Darkness (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Alexis drug the guys at the campfire?

Alexis drugged the guys as part of the cult's plan to trap and kill them. The girls are members of a satanic cult that performs ritual killings, and drugging the guys was necessary to immobilize them so they could be tied up and murdered as part of the cult's cycle of violence.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the news reports about cult killings and Pastor Butler blaming heavy metal music hint at the violent intentions behind the girls' invitation.

  • alexis
  • drugs
  • cult
  • trap
  • firecamp scene
Q2

Why did Alexis kill Ivan after he confronted them?

Alexis killed Ivan because he exposed their true motives and refused to accept their cult claims as a joke. When Ivan challenged their story about being part of a satanic cult and called them out, Alexis stabbed him to keep the truth from spreading and to proceed with their planned ritual killing.

Foreshadowing: The tension was already building when the girls revealed they had tied up the boys, showing their commitment to the cult's murderous plans.

  • ivan
  • alexis
  • killing
  • cult
  • confrontation
Q3

Why did Val shoot the sheriff?

Val shot Sheriff Dembrowski because he was attempting to arrest the girls after Susan called the police. When the sheriff arrived and started investigating, Val panicked and shot him to prevent the girls from being caught, showing her complete commitment to the cult's violent scheme.

Foreshadowing: The girls had already committed multiple murders and had no intention of letting law enforcement stop them.

  • val
  • sheriff
  • shooting
  • arrest
  • police
Q4

Why did Bev turn against Alexis and Val?

Bev turned against her friends after discovering that Pastor John Henry Butler, the cult leader, was her father and that he was embezzling money from church donations. This revelation made her realize the entire cult operation was built on manipulation and hypocrisy, causing her to reject the murderous scheme.

Foreshadowing: Bev's discomfort with the killings was visible when she asked to participate in the next murder, suggesting she was already having doubts.

  • bev
  • defection
  • father
  • butler
  • cult leader
  • money
Q5

Who is Pastor John Henry Butler and what's his role in the cult?

Pastor John Henry Butler is the leader of the satanic cult and Alexis's father. He preaches against heavy metal music while running the cult operations, and he funneled donated church money into his own accounts. He returns home during the chaos and shoots Kovacs, then tries to silence everyone to protect his cover.

Foreshadowing: The news reports at the beginning mention Pastor Butler blaming heavy metal for murders, establishing his public role before his true cult leadership is revealed.

  • pastor butler
  • cult leader
  • father
  • alexis
  • embezzlement
Q6

Why did Bev run over Alexis at the end?

Bev ran over Alexis because despite their former friendship, Alexis had become a dangerous threat. Wounded but still alive, Alexis was trying to stop them from escaping and likely would have continued hunting them. Bev made a brutal choice to ensure their survival.

Foreshadowing: Alexis's complete commitment to violence was established when she killed multiple people without hesitation, including her own stepmother.

  • bev
  • alexis
  • death
  • car
  • finale
  • killing
Q7

What was the cult's motive for the killings?

The cult believed they were performing ritual killings to honor Satan. The girls were tasked with killing worshippers of Satan as part of a cyclical ritual, with the murders framed as religious sacrifice rather than random violence.

Foreshadowing: The news reports about satanic cult murders establish the cult's ideology early in the film.

  • cult
  • satanic
  • sacrifice
  • ritual
  • killings
  • motive
Q8

Why did Alexis kill her stepmom Susan?

Alexis killed Susan because she stumbled upon Ivan's dead body while investigating the suspicious activity. Panic-stricken that Susan would discover the full extent of the cult's crimes and alert authorities, Alexis struck her down before she could call for help.

Foreshadowing: Susan's arrival was suspicious from the start, as she had already noticed something wrong and called the police.

  • alexis
  • susan
  • stepmom
  • killing
  • discovery
Q9

How did the girls trick the guys into coming to the house?

The girls targeted the guys after the milkshake incident at the concert. They bonded over drinks during the show, then invited the guys to an after-party at Alexis's remote country home. The friendly facade convinced the guys to accompany them, not realizing it was a trap.

Foreshadowing: The rivalry that developed at the concert, including the firecracker incident, created the opportunity for the girls to approach the guys under the guise of reconciliation.

  • trick
  • trap
  • guys
  • house
  • invitation
  • after-party
Q10

What was Bev's relationship to the cult leader?

Bev learned that Pastor John Henry Butler, the cult's leader, was her father. This revelation came during the chaos when she confronted Alexis and Val about the murders, exposing that their manipulation ran deeper than Bev had realized.

Foreshadowing: Butler's presence as a preacher who blamed heavy metal foreshadowed his hidden connection to the cult's activities.

  • bev
  • father
  • butler
  • daughter
  • revelation
Q11

How did the media portray the killings in the aftermath?

The news reports blamed all the murders on Alexis and the cult called 'We Summon The Darkness,' ignoring the others' involvement. Butler publicly feigned grief over his daughter's actions while secretly planning to cover his tracks, showing how the media narrative was manipulated.

Foreshadowing: The opening news reports about cult killings establish the pattern of media blame that continues at the end.

  • news
  • media
  • cover-up
  • cult
  • blame
  • aftermath

Movie threads

More Movies Like We Summon the Darkness, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes We Summon the Darkness tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies where a night out turns deadly like We Summon the Darkness

Stories where a fun social event descends into a brutal fight for survival. If you liked the shocking pivot from a heavy-metal concert to a fight for survival in We Summon the Darkness, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This list features thrillers and horror films where an innocent social event becomes a horrifying trap, testing characters' will to survive against sadistic antagonists.

  • tense
  • brutal
  • suspenseful
  • treacherous
  • chaotic
  • gritty
  • Tone: dark, treacherous
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a sharp, irreversible tonal shift. A group of characters, often young friends, embark on a seemingly ordinary recreational activity. This initial camaraderie and fun are violently shattered, revealing a premeditated threat. The plot then becomes a linear, fast-paced survival story against overwhelming odds.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared structure of a fun premise corrupted into a nightmare. They deliver a specific kind of suspense built on the violation of trust and safety, often featuring themes of betrayal, home invasion, and sadistic gamesmanship.

Movies about betrayal and survival like We Summon the Darkness

Groups pushed to their limits by shocking deception and violent threats. Fans of We Summon the Darkness who enjoyed the themes of deception and a friend group fighting for their lives will appreciate these selections. These movies focus on the emotional weight of betrayal amidst high-stakes survival scenarios, where trust is the first casualty.

  • suspenseful
  • anxious
  • treacherous
  • brutal
  • gritty
  • moral ambiguity
  • Tone: dark, suspenseful
  • Pacing: fast, anxious
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The emotional journey follows a group's descent from unity into fractured desperation. An external threat, frequently involving a cult or manipulative killers, exploits the group's vulnerabilities, leading to a reveal of betrayal. The narrative arc is as much about surviving the psychological fallout of this deception as it is about overcoming the physical danger.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their exploration of moral corruption under pressure and the theme of 'the enemy within.' They share a heavy emotional weight, focusing on how extreme situations reveal true character and dismantle bonds, leaving survivors permanently scarred.

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Every angle

We Summon the Darkness (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about We Summon the Darkness in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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