Summoning Sylvia

This horror comedy is actually really funny but it's not scary at all, I doubt it would frighten anyone in an adult audience (and this is definitely not for kids due to explicit bachelor party jokes and nudity).

The horror themes in Summoning Sylvia instead are approached with a light, almost-adolescent touch, which is fine because the movie works well just as a comedy. The ghost story is also used as a plot device to carry the underlying message of the film.

I would definitely recommend this and potentially will watch it again. However I don't understand the 100% on Rotten Tomatoes which frankly seems inflated because the flick is so openly gay.

'Summoning Sylvia' is a very short movie (74 minutes) with a simple premise, so this is going to be a short review.

What's the movie about? About summoning Sylvia, off course! Larry is about to get married to Jamie, so his friends Nico, Reggie and Kevin throw him a bachelor party for the weekend at a haunted house. Story goes, years ago Sylvia killed her son Phillip and buried him on the grounds. Philip now haunts the property.

Further to the story, it is believed Sylvia killed her son because he was gay. I'm not going to ruin anything for you, so let's just say the film dishes up a few twists towards the end.

But let's not jump to the end yet. Nico decides to do a séance, joking that he would like to ask Sylvia what really happened. It's all fun and games for the friends until Jamie's brother Harrison uninvitedly shows up. Well, not entirely uninvited since Larry told Philip in a moment of panic it was ok for Harrison to join them. Oh, did I mention all the guys except Harrison is gay? This puts the guys in a bit of an awkward situation, resulting in funny moments.

But when Sylvia shows up, it's a different ball game altogether... I don't think I've ever seen a gay movie about a haunting. Uhm, or should that be a film about a haunting with gay characters? Well, however you look at it, this turned out to be very entertaining. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the setting in the haunted house, and I enjoyed the 'over the top' moments. This was a very different kind of gay movie and I liked it.

Summoning Sylvia is almost a really good movie... but it's just not quite enough comedy/horror to push it over the top.

There are some genuine laugh out loud moments throughout the film and overall, it certainly works well as a decent comedy. The "horror" aspects however are basically non-existant.

It really felt like the film would have been boosted even more if there was a little (or maybe even a lot) of extra emphasis on the supernatural threat. The characters never feel like they're in any jeopardy at all.

The cast was overall really great imo as well.

It's too bad, but it seems destined to become a film you'll see and forget about, instead of joining the list of great horror comedies.

A gay bachelor party takes a turn for the awkward, when they accidentally summon the ghosts who reside in the haunted house they have rented for the night.

As it turns out the one ghost- Sylvia- killed her own son for being gay, before burying his body on the property.

And...to make matters worse...they have also invited the other groom's brother, who just so happens to be an ex-military, recovering alcoholic, that is rather homophobic...despite the fact that his brother is gay.

So, it doesn't help that someone forces alcohol on him, while the more antagonistic of the friend group trolls him about his homophobia.

Which, they believe, opens him up to be possessed by Sylvia- who they think still holds a grudge about her son's sexual persuasion.

Rendering her triggered, when the slutiest of the gay men has sex with his ghost.

Thus, they have no other choice than to restrain the brother, and undertake an exorcism.

So as to get Sylvia out of him.

Ultimately leading to a twist ending, and the feel good finale of the film.

On the whole, it is mainly a banter-based comedy.

So, if witty gay banter, between some super-flaming characters, isn't your thing...you are probably going to want to pass this one by.

But if you aren't so easily offended by the personal choices of other people.

Then you will almost certainly enjoy it.

Because it is chock full of humour.

Which I say as a CIS-hetero male that is definitely not the target market of the film.

Just realize that it is much more of a gay comedy, than it is a horror film.

So you don't leave with it failing to meet your expectations.

4 out of 10.

Summoning Sylvia is a perfectly fine campy film of a gay supernatural story. It has all the elements that are needed: haunted house, spooky backstory, believers, and enough confusion that no one really understands what is happening.

Then, the mistakes start. The shrill stereotypes that are indicative of "gay culture" dominate the film. And they are so strong that even the "straight" character has to become the epitome of a ignorant homophobe with all the inkling of being a violent repressed soul. Ho Hum.

I want representation and love the ideas of what this film is trying to do. I'm frustrated that representation of gay has to be a certain way: shrill, effeminate, queeny, and all leading to a drag performance.

Do they know that there is a full range of gay men out there? Is Adam Pauley on Happy Endings one of the few images of a gay man I can somewhat relate to because he's just a guy who likes men?