Like all movie genres, the Queer Cinema sector of film is having its hits and misses; Billy Eichner’s major studio release last year, Bros, lost gobs of cash and exposed an uncomfortable fact: most straight people just aren’t comfortable with graphic gay love and romance onscreen. Plus, the comedy portion of”Rom-Com”wasn’t very funny.
The new Horror comedy, Summoning Sylvia has zero scares but scores of laughs. Mostly little snarky, self-aware lines that effortlessly drop like faux pearls, quickly rolling away to make room for another. It has fun with its LGBTQ trusisms, but it’s for eveyone.
Larry, who’s about to get married to his future husband, is “kidnapped” by his three best friends for a bachelor weekend getaway at a haunted house.
You’re not allowed to say this phrase any more, especially about girls – but when these flamboyant visitors encounter the house’s legend from a hundred years ago, they do, I’m sorry, scream like girls, and I laughed my ass off every time.
The plot’s backstory: “a murderous woman named Sylvia slaughtered her son and buried him beneath the house’s floorboards. But then Larry remembers that he was supposed to spend the weekend bonding with Harrison, his mysterious future brother-in-law. Horrified at his oversight, Larry invites the army-uniformed, hetero Harrison to join his gaggle’s gaycation, neglecting to run it by his friends. Later, as they hold a high-spirited séance to summon the sinister Sylvia, the group ends up welcoming more houseguests than they bargained for.”
Written and directed by Wesley Taylor (Smash, The Spongebob Musical) and Alex Wyse (Marvel’s Iron Fist, soon to join Broadway’s Good Night, Oscar), it’s a lighthearted romp and to the extent the performances are over the top? They’re meant to be!
Summoning Sylvia will open for weeklong runs in markets nationwide on March 31. The film will be available on VOD beginning April 7. Check your local online listings
