Reveling somewhere between cheesy 80s horror flick and Abbott and Costello buddy comedy slapstick, the 2017 short film We Summoned a Demon, written and directed by Chris McInroy, is six minutes of pure horror comedy goodness.
Following a pair of less than cool guys, Kirk (Kirk C. Johnson) and Carlos (Carlos Larotta), they are really pulling at straws. . . as they’ve decided to attempt a satanic ritual to make the former a slick talking pick-up artist (of course, it’s all about getting a girl). After a ‘slight’ blood mishap, they inadvertently summon a glowing yellow eyed demon with horns that could qualify as overcompensating (John Orr).
Out for blood, souls, or some other evil mischief, the duo must attempt to evade the cantankerous fiend. Looking for any loophole in the book (sadly, there is no book for this type of thing), they try a number of lackluster offensive and defensive maneuvers – like guessing its name and reciting a holy spell (both laugh out loud moments), to stave off the hideous beast. But can two super lame dudes really best such a capable demon? Might finally becoming cool be the key to their survival?
Lit in striking neon-toned reds and blues, McInroy and cinematographer E.J. Enriquez build a simple yet effective warehouse world for these two buffoons to fumble around in. And boy are the pair entertaining – both bickering and helpful, fast talking yet slow as molasses, they really capture the essence of vaudevillian comedic charm. Opposed by an equally as impressive demon design, its eyes are like a lighthouse – you want to look away, but you just keep being drawn towards their otherworldly luminescence. It all coming together to a climactic conclusion in a most satisfying way.
If you’re looking for a quick burst of demonic blood sport enlivened with both horror and comedy, then We Summoned a Demon is for you. Living for the 40s, 80s, and today, it unites these unique eras and genres to create something entertainingly special. So, let this spoopy short film put a spell on you. . . it might just make you cool.
P.S. Just so you know, spoopy isn’t a typo – it is Internet slang for something that is both funny and scary.