Review: Summoning Sylvia

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2023
Images from the Internet

Summoning Sylvia
Directed by Wesley Taylor; Alex Wyse
Cody Lassen and Associates; Diamond Dog Entertainment; Book of Spell; Entertainment Squad
74 minutes, 2023
www.summoningsylvia.com/

Perhaps it is the timing of hateful homophobia coming out of the Right side of North American politics that there seems to be a welcome sticking-out-of-tongues (metaphorically) by the rise of lavish LGBTQetc.-focused cinema. Some recently are DisorientingDick (2022), and RuPaul’s AJ and the Queen (2020). So, why should a horror comedy be left out?

Noah J. Ricketts, Troy Iwata, Travis Coles, Frankie Grande

After an incredibly brief prologue, through flashback we meet four friends, Larry (Travis Coles), Nico (Frankie Grande), Reggie (Troy Iwata) and Kevin (Noah J. Ricketts), as they surprise Larry, newly engaged to Jamie (Michael Urie), with a Bachelor Weekend vay-cay to a supposedly haunted house in New Jersey, a couple of hours from New York City. It was originally owned a century before by the murderous titular Sylvia (Veanne Cox). After they get comfortable (e.g., dancing around), what they intend to do is, well, the title.

Sylvia was killed by an angry mob after she was known for murdering her own son, Phillip (Camden Garcia), burying him on the estate, who is also resurrected during said séance. She was trying to keep Phillip a secret, and I am guessing why, and also how this feeds into future actions by her spirit. [Note: happily, I was only partially correct.]

Nicholas Logan

After the séance and late (and unwanted by the group) to the party is Harrison (Nicholas Logan), Jamie’s very cis bro who is in the military who Larry has never met. “Culture” shock abounds in many humorous ways as both Harrison and the four live very different lifestyles, of which each group do not understand the other. Larry is trying his best to be a bit macho (and failing), and hoping everyone gets along.

One aspect worth noting is that in many films, including ones dealing in the horror genre, there tends to be a collection of cis roles, and one or two “third wheel” gay characters, such as in All Your Friends Are Dead (2023), but here it is in reverse.

Veanne Cox

The direction and cinematography is generally quite straightforward, but there are outstanding moments where the editing of two different scenes, or mixing of flashbacks with the present, that have really nice comedic overtures.

It is debatable where there is more tension: between the spirits and the humans, or the cis and the gays. Is Harrison related to DeSantis? But my real question is, Harrison’s brother, Jamie, is overtly out and gay, and Jamie picked Harrison to be the best man. Wouldn’t Harrison have some level of understanding or compassion about gender differences if he was chosen for this role? Instead, he is presented as a homophobe hardass (I can see where this is going). Like some “chick flicks” (a term of which I am not fond) where all the males (except maybe one or two) are assholes, here it is clear which side of the coin the filmmakers are on. Thing is, they are not wrong depicting many on the Right side of politics.

The ending has a number of twists and turns to a very satisfying conclusion. The film is smartly written, well acted, and funny as hell, without being overly broad (no pun intended).

 

This is definitely Cole’s picture with his Larry being the glue that holds everything together, but many scenes are outright stolen by Grande, who says so much with the purse of the lips, or especially one with his blinks.

There is very little blood, little violence (with more implied), and some romping, but no lower nudity. This is surprisingly satisfying despite the various directions the story takes, and does not follow a path one expects from these (haunting) kinds of films.

I am sure, as a cis Ally, I am missing a few references here and there, and yet found it just so enjoyable. Nothing turns out like it is expected, and every time something ends up being something else, it makes perfect sense (considering ghosts and all) for both the story and the characters.

Just the right length, this film is closer in tone to To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) than, say, The Boys in the Band (1970), considering that in Wong Foo, cis actors play gay characters. It is a hoot, and totally enjoyable from beginning to end for boys and girls of all sizes.

IMDB listing HERE