Summoning Sylvia (2023) User Reviews

Hilariously Gay Comedy

[thalassafischer · 7/10 · 10 June 2023]

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.

What an enjoyable horror comedy...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 1 October 2023]

I had never heard about this 2023 horror comedy titled "Summoning Sylvia" prior to sitting down to watch it. So I didn't know what I was in for, aside from what I read in the synopsis, and for it being a horror comedy. But of course I opted to give the movie a fair chance.

And as it turned out, then writers and directors Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse put together a surprisingly enjoyable and entertaining script and storyline. The narrative in "Summoning Sylvia" was really well-written, and the two writers managed to juggle elements of traditional, classic horror with elements of good comedy. And the movie turned out to be quite a surprise. I have to admit that I was genuinely entertained throughout the 74 minutes that the movie ran for.

The laughs throughout the narrative are plenty and good. I was genuinely amused by the comedy in "Summoning Sylvia", so thumbs up to writers and directors Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse for that accomplishment.

And I really enjoyed the way that the narrative unfolds, keeping the audience in the dark and speculating as to what is really happening. The movie has some rather great and unforeseen twists to the storyline, which certainly helped to make it all the more enjoyable.

The character gallery in the movie was good as well, because the characters were nicely fleshed out, with different traits and personalities. And I have to say that the writers really aced it here, because the characters were very likable.

I was only familiar with actor Michael Urie on the cast list. But I will say that they had a great group of actors and actresses for the roles. The movie was really nicely carried by Travis Coles, Frankie Grande, Troy Iwata, Noah J. Ricketts and Nicholas Logan.

There was a good atmosphere throughout the course of the movie, which implemented both traditional horror and the comedy nicely into it. And the effects in the movie were fair enough, despite it not being a movie that was heavily dependent on special effects.

If you enjoy horror comedies, then "Summoning Sylvia" is certainly a movie that I warmly recommend. I was genuinely and wholeheartedly entertained throughout the entire movie.

My rating of "Summoning Sylvia" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

Hey girl. Boo!

[justahunch-70549 · 5/10 · 25 June 2023]

A silly little thing that all rightwing conservatives should view! Lol. I really thought this would be terrible, and it ain't art, but it was kind of fun in a nonsensical way with teachings about the rights and wrongs on how to deal with gay people, though in this case they are less gay and more like the queens of yesteryear. It is also, incredibly, eventually about acceptance all in 74 minutes! This is a film in which Michael Urie is ultimately the most masculine of the bunch and for those who know who he is, this will come as a surprise. Simple tale of four very gay guys renting a haunted cabin and having an unexpected straight man join the party. Some laughs, but mostly just silly.

Surpassed my expectations

[braspatricia · 10/10 · 3 April 2023]

I love horror movies but based on the poster I wasn't expecting much. While the budget is clearly not big, the movie delivered in story, comedy and chemistry between the characters. It was just a JOY to watch. Frankie Grande from Big Brother is in it and made me laugh out loud so many times I lost count, his talent is definitely underrated. The other actors all did a phenomenal job as well and it was about more personlaity traits than just being gay. The one "straight character" gave a great performance too and added a different element that was fun. The horror element is more of a background aspect so don't expect a lot of gore or jump scares but it's a well told story with flashbacks and a fun twist. The best parts really are the ones focused on the comedic intearctions and friendhips though, amazing diverse cast. Highly recommend, such a good time, watch with entire friend group!

Hilarious, spooky, gay comedy

[cody-291-646882 · 10/10 · 1 April 2023]

Summoning Sylvia follows a group of gay friends who rent a haunted house for a weekend bachelor party only to be interrupted by spooks both supernatural and real. One of the funniest films I've seen in a long time with snappy, witty dialog. A create cast with tons of chemistry. Some mistaken identities, some potential homophobia, and some sex with ghosts (who would NOT be gendered!) First time feature writers/directors Alex Wyse and Wesley Taylor show their flair for creating real dialog and clever comedy. In between the scares there are drag queens, dancing, music and hijinks. Highly recommend checking it out if you get the chance.

An Amusing Banter-Based Gay Comedy.

[meddlecore · 4/10 · 26 June 2023]

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.

Enough scary to be fun. Enough fun to be hysterical.

[castrignot · 10/10 · 3 April 2023]

Very entertaining, funny, and just enough scary to make the hour and 15 minutes fly by. I think it's wonderful that the film is able to poke fun at itself, and the stereotypes that make up a lot of the humor, and at the same time accept everyone just as they are. It's got a light message and a lot of humor.

The chemistry of the cast is exceptional, and to a person there interplay and timing is spot on. The writing directing team did an exceptional job giving the performers some real language to work with and some real direction to keep the narrative moving forward.

This is helped tremendously by the editing which is fast-paced and precise. The first-rate soundtrack and sound effects piles on to make this a really entertaining 75 minutes!

Very fun and positive

[barbrebry · 10/10 · 28 April 2023]

We loved it!

Maybe you have to have gay guys in your life to appreciate the effort made to show all the fun you can have just being yourself!

I especially loved the variety of characters. I've seen each unique personality in my friends. The straight guy seemed a bit overdone but I guess playing the straight guy was a bit of a stretch for him. And his outfit was perfect.

And what a perfect place to have a party. The home was probably easy to decorate. Or maybe it was that was originally. Cannot tell.

The acting was believable and the costuming great. ESPECIALLY THE Drag dance.

So much fun!!!

Trying for camp, and they overshot it

[jmbovan-47-160173 · 4/10 · 7 April 2024]

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?

Hahaha

[icantoo · 8/10 · 3 August 2023]

I had written a whole different review and had to delete it. I watched this movie and it was a tad slow at one part and I fast forward. Then I watched again. I had rented it and had two days so I gave it a second watch and I have to say this. Hysterical.

The sets, the acting, all better than I expected. I like that they brought the gay community mainstream, I like the commentary and its usage.

This is not a horror movie, unless your gay and then your just showing the truth of your existence and how scary it can be.

Obviously it does get a little slow at one point and seem kind of pointless but KEEP WATCHING! It does pick up! I just wish they would have been more clear that it was JUST comedy.

Almost really good... just not quite enough

[FrederickThornborrow · 5/10 · 4 April 2024]

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 hilarious gay movie

[press-42404 · 10/10 · 16 June 2023]

A very funny comedy (with some mild spooks) about a group of gay friends who rent a haunted Airbnb for a bachelor party. The rare gay movie that isn't about AIDS or sex or drugs but just a group of very funny gay friends. The cast has great chemistry and I'd love to see another movie with them. Some of the funniest one-liners I've ever heard. It lightly touches on homophobia but not in a preachy way. A quick 76 minutes, a fun soundtrack, and a really fun musical number at the end. Low budget, but lots of heart and laughs. I could see this becoming a queer cult classic and hope it finds an audience.

A Spooky Gay Ol' Time!

[jasdepuy · 10/10 · 4 April 2023]

When I watched this movie I had no idea what to expect. I definitely wasn't expecting to relate to these characters the way that I did! I had such a blast seeing myself in each and every person in this cast. As a queer POC it was beautiful to see a movie like this that's not only Hilarious and campy, but actually kind of scary! Haha! I feel like we need more queer horror movies and this is for sure opening the door to more comedy gold for us in the future! So exciting! The cast is represents my friend group in a way that I never thought I'd see in a horror movie ever. A+ for writing. A+ for representation. And A+ for Miss Sylvia...watch the movie and you'll see why!

Laugh out loud funny

[Carl422 · 9/10 · 1 July 2023]

I rented Summoning Sylvia expecting a horror movie but didn't expect to laugh out loud as much as I did. The story starts out with a group of friends "kidnapping" a friend of theirs who is about to get married for a weekend getaway in a house that may or may not be haunted. They hold a seance to connect with the spirit and find out that the previous owner had a gay son. I won't spoil the rest, but there are mistaken identities and sounds that aren't what they seem and a brother-in-law who may or may not be a homophobic killer whose body has been possessed by an evil spirit. This has some of the wittiest dialogue and lines that my friends and I now use to crack each other up.

funny and gay

[carlysnarly · 9/10 · 28 June 2023]

"Summoning Sylvia" delivers a riveting supernatural thriller that keeps audiences engaged from start to finish. Starring Frankie Grande, Travis Coles, and Michael Urie, this film combines stellar performances with an intriguing plot to create an immersive cinematic experience.

The standout aspect of "Summoning Sylvia" is the exceptional performances by the cast. Frankie Grande brings depth and intensity to his character, seamlessly transitioning between moments of vulnerability and sheer terror. Travis Coles delivers a memorable performance, injecting humor and charisma into the film. Michael Urie's portrayal adds a layer of complexity, bringing a sense of mystery to his character. The chemistry among the actors enhances the story, making their interactions feel authentic and captivating.

The plot of "Summoning Sylvia" is a gripping blend of supernatural elements and psychological suspense. The narrative unfolds with a steady pace, gradually building tension and suspense. The twists and turns keep viewers guessing, as the characters delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding Sylvia's summoning. While some plot points could have been further explored or clarified, the overall storyline remains compelling and engaging.

Visually, the film impresses with its atmospheric cinematography. The use of lighting and shadows effectively sets the eerie tone, creating an unsettling ambiance that lingers throughout. The production design adds authenticity to the supernatural elements, enhancing the overall experience. The attention to detail in the visual presentation adds to the film's immersive quality.

The sound design and music score play a significant role in amplifying the suspense and adding to the film's eerie atmosphere. The haunting melodies and well-timed sound effects heighten the tension, intensifying key moments and immersing the audience further into the supernatural world of "Summoning Sylvia."

While the film successfully captivates, there are a few instances where pacing could have been tightened to maintain the momentum. Additionally, certain plot threads may leave some viewers desiring more resolution or explanation. Nevertheless, these minor flaws do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the film.

"Summoning Sylvia" is a supernatural thriller that benefits from strong performances and an intriguing plot. With its talented cast and compelling narrative, it keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. While it has a few shortcomings, the film delivers an engaging cinematic experience that fans of the genre will appreciate.

Hilarious, important, and all the jump scares

[spencerramirez · 10/10 · 4 April 2023]

This movie was HYSTERICAL. Whether you're in the lgbt community or not, anyone can appreciate the humor in the movie. It had plenty of jump scares, the production quality was phenomenal and the actors were flawless the whole way through. Frankie Grande definitely gave a standout performance here. The movie comes at such a special time in our society as hate crimes are in the rise and there's all of these laws being passed against drag queens (which the movie definitely delivers on). More importantly, the movie brings up the topic of a lack of communication from two seemingly different view points and how just taking time to try and understand one another solves all the problems. Love love love love this movie!

Fun Haunted House Comedy

[Reviews_of_the_Dead · 8/10 · 7 April 2023]

This is a movie that I learned about when Justin Cook reached out about potentially watching the screener. I confirmed that I would when I saw that this was horror. I did read a bit of the synopsis ahead of it. Seeing that this was also a comedy made me wonder which genre this would fall more into.

Synopsis: a gay bachelor party turns spooky when sinister spirits are suddenly summoned.

For this one, we start with getting a brief introduction to the characters and the event that begins the haunting. Larry (Travis Coles) is getting married to Jamie (Michael Urie). Larry's friends kidnap him for a bachelor weekend that they've planned. Reggie (Troy Iwata) is the planner. With him is Nico (Frankie Grande) and Kevin (Noah J. Ricketts). An issue arises though. Larry promised he would take Harrison (Nicholas Logan) tuxedo shopping for the wedding. To make up for it, Larry says that everyone is cool if Harrison joins them. The issue here is that everyone on this trip is gay aside from him. Larry also didn't check either as he's a people pleaser.

Before Harrison arrives, they decide to do a séance to wake up the spirits of the house. It is haunted and that is why Reggie picked it. Nico fancies himself a witch and together they try to conjure up the spirits of Sylvia (Veanne Cox) and Phillip (Camden Garcia). She is thought to have killed herself and was then murdered in her home. Things might be as they seem. The night takes odd turns as this group tries to solve the mystery and not kill each other as things get revealed.

I decided to go a bit lighter on the recap as this is more about the characters than the actual haunting. Those elements are light to be honest. That doesn't necessarily mean it is a bad thing. This movie though is comedy first. It is hilarious at that. I'll come back to that shortly, what I think I should do is first breakdown the characters as that carries the movie story wise for me.

Now each of the characters have their character flaws. Larry is too nice. He is afraid to upset people so he goes with the flow. He avoids conflict. To be honest, I see myself there. He also seems to tone down who he is when Harrison shows up, since his soon to be brother-in-law is straight. Nico is a big personality. He won't tone it down and I appreciate him for being who he is. This makes for comedy as well. He butts heads with Harrison. Reggie is a meticulous planner and when things get disrupted, it annoys him. Kevin is a romantic who is interested in Reggie. Harrison is interesting as I said. He's a former military guy who has a bit of PTSD and maybe a drinking problem. The acting here is great from Coles, Grande, Iwata, Ricketts and Logan. They all play so well off each other as I was saying.

Then to shift over to the haunting. What I like here is that we get the lore of what happened. It is thought that Sylvia killed her son, Phillip. The group is hoping to bring them back to find out the truth. This is a section that we see more and more as the movie goes on and I liked that. What I didn't care for here is that it seems this will be a focal point, but its more of a McGuffin. It pushes the story along and there are reveals there. I'd say that Cox and Garcia are good in their roles here as well.

The last bit for the story that I want to bring up is the social commentary here. I think it is well done. It didn't feel in your face so you could enjoy this as a haunted house comedy. There is the element of Harrison being the fish out of water. What I love is the normalizing this group of friends and how they live their lives. Having more movies like this to make it the normal is good for cinema in my opinion.

Now I did lie. There is one other thing I want to bring up and that is the horror elements. As a horror fan and reviewer, I wish they would ramp this up a bit more. That is why I feel the subplot with Sylvia is a McGuffin. It moves the story forward, but that seems to be all that it is. The atmosphere is good at times being a bit creepy. This leans more into the comedy though which I'm not always a fan of.

All that I think that is left to go into would be with the filmmaking. I think that this is shot well. The cinematography and editing are good. I like how they will mesh different things together where a character will be doing something and then it will shift to another in the same position. I enjoy that. There aren't a lot in the way of effects here outside of that, but it also doesn't need them. Other than that, I thought that the soundtrack was fine. It fit for what we needed here, especially during a montage scene that was fun and another one where Harrison is trying to be 'part of the group'.

In conclusion, this a fun movie. This is more comedy than horror. That is something I want to establish. We have a great group of characters that feel like old friends. The acting fits perfectly there. The littlest things and the stress of the situation opens unresolved issues. I also think that there is a good message here with how things play out as well. Not sure I could fully recommend this to horror fans though. If you don't mind one that is more lighthearted, then this is for you. I had a blast here.

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

A highly enjoyable genre comedy

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 8/10 · 15 December 2023]

Getting together for a bachelor party weekend, a group of friends hopes to have a wild last weekend at a lavish remote mansion, but while the group partakes in their fun their absentminded decision to undertake a seance brings about a ghost that haunts the house and forces them to deal with it.

Overall, this was a rather fun and generally enjoyable effort. One of the finer points with this one is the rather fun setup that might not be all that original but manages to keep this one moving along quite nicely. The idea of the secret bachelor party weekend and getting everyone together for the trip is solid enough as this provides the opportunity to focus on the group and their relationships while still bringing about the weekend festivities ranging from joking around to choreographed routines and clandestine hookups. Even though none of this is all that creative beyond the idea of it being gay guys enjoying their friends' weekend and going through the motions of everything, it's good enough to give a great idea of who each of them is which also allows for a nice bit of comedy based on their interactions together. This carries over into the series of hauntings that emerge once they decide to conduct the seance and unleash the spirit. The atmosphere of the estate works quite nicely with the way it brings about the group's decision to summon the spirit and offers an enjoyable setup to the later antics when the hauntings start to occur. Keeping the kind of lighthearted tone that was established in the comedic build-up that sets everything going in the right direction toward the final half where the ghost's purpose is exposed to them during the seance that starts to bring about the wild attempts at figuring out how to stop the hauntings from taking place as the idea of what takes place here is quite fun giving this enough to like here. There are some issues here that hold this one back. The main issue with the film is the lack of genre thrills that take place in the first half of the film as it spends quite a lot of time on the interactions with the group of friends going through the business of the bachelor party with each other going around having fun, goofing around with their dress-ups, or having the secret hookups carry out behind everyone's backs which all play out in a comedic vibe before the seance takes place. This is all happening in the first half when that seance occurs so it takes a while to get to the horror elements and could be a slough to get through, especially at such a short length that this one has. As well, there's also the fact that the film's reliance on discussion more than anything else with its lighthearted attitude and lack of true genre content here might be off-putting which could all be enough to lower this one overall.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Mild Violence.

So fun and entertaining

[karrinna · 8/10 · 14 January 2024]

I really loved this movie. It was better than I expected. It was fun to watch. I was laughing the majority of the time. Even with so many cliche characters this did not disappoint. It was even very suspenseful. It kept me guessing on all accounts about who was or wasn't an "enemy", meaning that even the brother of one of the grooms ended up being a surprising character. I loved the fact that it was not only entertaining but it was also insightful and sent a powerful message. Every character contributed Unique personalities and perspectives when it came to adding flair to the movie. I have watched this every time it comes on. It's that funny.

Different

[bkgseoul · 10/10 · 30 April 2023]

I love how it's a horror film and yet so hilarious. If you're not a supporter of human life, LGBTQ+, then this film isn't for you but honestly, we live in a time where we are all different and we are allowed to love and be loved. You can't call yourself a human being and hate another for who they are not judge them based upon your ignorance. I believe that without them we would still be living in times where other countries come and take over and lie and say they are the foundation. What a joke!!!!! Times change, embrace it, TRUST ME, you'll grow as a person and won't miss the joy and beauty of life and mankind. Overall THIS FILM was relatable, I throw shady, I'm hilarious too. I paid five dollars to watch this on Prime and it was worth it. I enjoyed this film.

Clever Horror Comedy

[ladymidath · 9/10 · 16 April 2024]

I have to admit that while I am not a huge fan of horror comedy, this was brilliant. It was as funny as The Selling and the Cornetto trilogy.

A group of very gay friends to together in a haunted house for a bachelor party, throw in the brother of the groom, who is not in attendance who is very straight, a seance that summons a couple of ghosts and you have the making of a hilarious horror comedy.

Travis Cole, Frankie Grande Troy Iwata Noah J Ricketts are all great in their roles but it is the fish out of water, Nicholas Logan as the quiet and uncomfortable future in law that really shines.

Veanne Cox brings an austere creepiness and Camden Garcia brings a sweetness in the role of her son.

Michael Urie, Sean Grandillo and Nick Martinez are great even if their roles were somewhat smaller.

This is a witty movie filled with clever and fun banter even in the face of a terrifying haunting.

The directors, Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse did a great job with balancing the humour with some pretty tense moments that were scattered throughout.

The ending was a real treat and was really heartwarming.

Whether you love horror, comedy or LGBTQIA movies, this is a real treat.