"Summoners" is a movie that was marketed as a horror film about witches, but it falls far short of delivering on that promise. Despite its 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is an exercise in tedium, leaving viewers like me wondering how it ever received such glowing reviews. What was supposed to be a chilling tale of witchcraft turned out to be a cringe-inducing and boring 90-minute ordeal that I can never get back.
The film opens with an atmospheric setting that initially seems promising. The cinematography captures the dark and eerie ambiance of a secluded forest, where the story is supposed to unfold. Unfortunately, this promising start is one of the few highlights of the movie. From the outset, the plot moves at a glacial pace, struggling to build any sense of suspense or fear.
The characters are one-dimensional and poorly developed, making it difficult to invest in their fates. The protagonist, a young woman who stumbles upon her old best friend, is written with such lackluster personality that her journey feels more like a tedious chore than a thrilling adventure. Her interactions with the friend are awkward and stilted, lacking the depth and nuance needed to create any real emotional impact.
The witches themselves, supposedly the film's main source of horror, are disappointingly bland. Rather than being depicted as menacing or enigmatic, they come across as a caricature of what witches are supposed to be. Their rituals and spells, which should have been the film's highlights, are executed with such lack of creativity that they become laughable. Instead of feeling frightened or intrigued, I found myself cringing at the poorly executed attempts at horror.
One of the biggest issues with "Summoners" is its script. The dialogue is often clunky and unnatural, further detracting from any sense of immersion. The characters speak in a way that feels forced, as if they are reciting lines rather than engaging in genuine conversation. This lack of authenticity makes it difficult to connect with the story or the characters, leaving viewers detached and uninterested.
Moreover, the pacing of the film is excruciatingly slow. Scenes drag on far longer than necessary, with long stretches of mundane dialogue and repetitive actions. Instead of building tension, these drawn-out sequences only serve to highlight the film's lack of substance. The attempts at creating suspense fall flat, resulting in a movie that is more boring than terrifying.
Even the technical aspects of the film fail to impress. The special effects, which are crucial for a horror movie about witches, are amateurish at best. The visual representation of magic and supernatural elements is unconvincing, further diminishing any potential for scares. Combined with a forgettable soundtrack that does little to enhance the atmosphere, "Summoners" feels like a low-budget production that lacks the polish needed to be taken seriously.
In conclusion, "Summoners" is a movie that fails to deliver on its promise of horror and witchcraft. Instead, it offers a cringe-worthy and boring experience that leaves viewers wondering how it ever received a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. With its poorly developed characters, lackluster script, slow pacing, and unconvincing special effects, the film is a disappointing waste of time. For those seeking a genuinely scary or engaging horror movie, "Summoners" is best avoided. Save yourself the 90 minutes and look elsewhere for a film that can actually deliver the chills and thrills that "Summoners" sorely lacks.
