User reviews

Sadly, everything interesting about this movie could have been accomplished in a half hour episode of outer limits, without the boredom and wasted time.

What is this? I mean like not awful but also not good ¿ i might just be extra disappointed bc i did read the reviews before watching & they were all extremely good. Overall, semi-decent but cringey.

"The Summoned" promised a suspenseful horror, but the finale product is deeply disapointing. I feel like in some ways it tried to mimic "Get Out" and definitely didin't succeed. The story itself is quite messy because the main plot is basically only told (by the characters) and not shown. Because of that the story doesn't really come through and in the end you are left with asking yourself "what was this film actually about?". Most of the scenes are horror cliches and in my opinion some were too cheesy and even laughable. Overall I am sure I felt extremely bored watching it and I am going to forget this film very soon.

Saw this at Overlook and really wish I didn't. Terrible acting and a predictable story that's been told seven million times. Just an all-around cringe fest. Don't waste your time.

Don't get me wrong they got me with the trailer to even rent it for 5.99 but if anything me and my girlfriend got a good laugh out of this because it was RIDICULOUS CORNY. They should change the theme from horror to comedy this is most asedio amateur film I ever seen in my life should be in free section well I'm sure it's headed there soon lol I i know they would not disrespect the movie theatre like this I could of made a better movie LMAO.

The film starts off as a slow burn mystery. Or it tries to. Clues to what is actually going on are handed out way to frequently.

When the big reveal hits, it feels a bit rushed and heavy-handed.

All that being said though, there is a solid, enjoyable film here.

My biggest gripe was the music. Don't get me wrong, it's well written, well orchestrated and well produced, but the way it is used just seems dated. It seems to try too hard, to the point that many scenes seem to have too much music. It made me think of soundtracks to late 90s and early 2000s straight-to-video movies. The music was by no means bad, but just overplayed. It's like the film-makers had no faith in the shots to create the desired atmosphere and fell back on the music to do the job. It should be a shared responsibility.

I wish I could give it minus stars. Predictable, boring and totally bad acting. I lasted 90 minutes and turned it off. Just awful. Worst script and direction.

No its not complete garbage actually, but its just not that good movie, on the plus side I think the acting works well and direction is good, production is ok , low budget but they have tried their very best

But the story, the story is stupid, the whole idea is just stupid, feels like someone wrote this in a cab on his way to the studio, material is thin as a paper and so many holes in it a cheese would be green of envy

But its not complete garbage, you can watch this with a half eye a rainy sunday, but you cant watch it a saturday evning with popcorn, actually its a very typical 3-5 star movie not lower not higher.

Rating Breakdown: Story - 0.75 :: Direction - 1.00 :: Pacing - 0.50 :: Performances - 1.00 :: Entertainment - 1.00 TOTAL - 4.25/10

The good news and the bad news are the same: the story. Yuri Baranovsky weaves a mystery that intrigues and unsettles, but as the plot thickens, so does the film's self-importance. The deeper it goes, the more it revels in its own cleverness, and that smugness distances the audience from the suspense rather than drawing them in. Director Mark Meir clearly favours slow-burning tension, but this one burns so slowly it almost goes out. The pace drags when it should pulse, leaving the audience more likely to check the time than grip their seats.

The final act is where things pick up, finally injecting energy and clarity into the story. But by then, the sluggish pacing has already done its damage. The performances are a mixed bag-Frederick Stuart and J. Quinton Johnson bring a sense of authority, but the rest of the cast struggles to make the character-driven storytelling as engaging as it needs to be.

Is it worth watching? Perhaps, but only as a one-time curiosity rather than a film to recommend. You will need patience and possibly caffeine to get through the slower sections, but if you stick with it, there are moments of intrigue buried within the plodding pace.

Saw this movie at Overlook film festival and will way it is more of a thriller than a horror, and if you are looking for a gorefest this definitely isn't it. It's great quality for a lower budget movie and I found it to be just the right amount of intrigue and mystery. The acting was great with some great humor mixed in throughout. The characters were really fun! I won't give away spoilers, but I will say that there are some fun twists that you really have to keep an eye on. This isn't any sort of giveaway but the main characters are phenomenal singers and there is a moment where they show off their pipes.

Summoned to a remote estate in the wilderness, a couple attending a self-help retreat find that they've been subjected to a series of supernatural hauntings intended to return a debt brought forth by their ancestors generations ago and must find a way to settle it before they become victims.

This was a decent enough if somewhat misguided effort. When this one works nicely is the highly understated relationship on display that showcases how effective the pact is. Getting a rather immediate start on the material prospects between the couples by seeing their careers and overall wealth at the moment we meet them at the house where we realize the completely out-of-his-element setup established. The mega-wealthy aspects here in terms of their overall appearance and general means of going about the world, the vapidness of their interactions towards each other once they realize he's not involved in their society only gets enhanced once the treatment sessions begin. That becomes more apparent once the twist comes about in the later stages here featuring the reveal about the past inhabitants of the retreat that ties into their visit but the actual reveal of the hosts' malicious nature towards him which is quite chilling once it's all spelled out. These factors are enough to keep this one intriguing enough for the most part while there are numerous issues to be had with this one. The biggest issue here is the utterly uninteresting and barely worthwhile group of influencers that we're following for the majority of the film. It's incredibly obvious how out-of-place he is amongst the group not just because he's nowhere near as wealthy with his grounded approach but also because the more likable personality he has is in total contrast to their vast wealth and superficiality. That he would even be in the situation of dating her is never explained and he never seems to fit into the situation in any sense so these scenes come off rather clunky and somewhat boring to sit through when we're spending time before the twist occurs that doesn't redeem them but merely makes it understandable why they're who they are. That ends up making the twist itself seem far less impactful with an abundance of over-explanations to try to make it seem like these events are taking place by the deal set up which is incredibly convoluted and feels like contrivance more than anything. These are what hold this one back overall.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

Loved the twists and turns, don't wanna spoil but watch for really fun performances, cool camera work, awesome score, and a good time!! Even non-horror fans can enjoy the character dynamics and art without having too many nightmares. Can't wait to see more from this team.

I like horror movies and didn't really expect much, but was really happy with the story line. I was happy that it wasn't a rehash of a story I've already seen and the acting / directing was good despite my never having heard of any of them.

I think with a little effort it could have been much scarier though. It made me daydream of a Korean or Japanese version that could scare the pants off of people.

It would have been a lot scarier if they did a "Ghost Ship" ending where when you thought it was all over, you learn that it's just restarting fresh.

Was able to catch this at Overlook and it was a really fun time! Loved the acting and the camera work. Not super bloody/scary which I appreciated, but more fun/tense. Fun movie to watch in a group!!

This was a fun time. Although "The Summoned" is a story that has been around since the "Devil" was invented. I really enjoyed the way it was updated to a more modern time. Great cast, beautifully shot and some really cool effects!! Definitely worth checking out.

This was a fun time. Although "The Summoned" is a story that has been around since the "Devil" was invented. I really enjoyed the way it was updated to a more modern time. Great cast, beautifully shot and some really cool effects!! Definitely worth checking out.

This was a fun time. Although "The Summoned" is a story that has been around since the "Devil" was invented. I really enjoyed the way it was updated to a more modern time. Great cast, beautifully shot and some really cool effects!! Definitely worth checking out.

Beautifully shot, great writing, even better editing. Not gory or a gross-fest, just a great story with fun characters and a dark, moody atmosphere. Love the setting as well, it's almost another character in the story.

This is a great little film! Interesting commentary on what we do for success, with genuine scares, tension, and LOL moments. A serious movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, smart without being pretentious, and makes you out your phone down and watch while white knuckling your arm chair.

Great Directorial debut and a really fun experience. Great performances and a killer location. The Faustian-Bargain horror is well-trod territory, but the film finds a way to make it fresh and new again.

This was fantastic, I have been a fan of Yuri Baranovsky for quite some time and have kind of a crush on him. Fred Stu really kills it as Dr. Frost, i mean everyone does a great job but he's just so watchable.

This was a wonderful and talented cast. The film was enjoyable and kept you guessing. Great thriller to enjoy, without all the blood. The actors, camera work, and directing is worth the watch!

It's a small indie film but the combination of incredibly talented and charming actors, the cinematography, the directing, the writing and the unique editing really sets it apart. It's got some really hilarious moments and the whole second half is a breathless sprint which I really enjoyed. I had a blast watching it - it's a perfect kind of midnight movie.