Lo Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A guy draws a circle, summons a sassy demon to find his kidnapped girlfriend, and discovers his love life was already basically Hell, but with catchy tunes.

🍿 Lo: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Desperate Summons

Love presents daunting challenges, but none so extreme as the one faced by Justin when his girlfriend, April, is kidnapped by demons. Distraught, Justin finds an ancient book left behind by April that holds the key to contacting the demonic realm. Desperate to rescue her from the fiery pits, he uses the book to summon a demon.

Encountering Lo

Following the ritual, Justin successfully summons the demon named Lo. Appearing within a protective circle drawn by Justin, the grotesque and witty demon is seemingly bound to obey his master. However, Lo immediately begins to challenge Justin, questioning his motives and the nature of his relationship with April.

Tales from the Relationship

To understand April’s disappearance and Justin’s desperation, Lo uses his abilities to project scenes from Justin and April’s relationship. These flashbacks, often presented in a theatrical, low-budget style, reveal quirky and unconventional moments from their time together. Through these vignettes and Lo’s commentary, the film explores themes of love, perception, and the sacrifices one makes for another.

Lo’s True Intentions

While Justin believes Lo is helping him find April, the demon has his own agenda. Trapped within the circle, Justin is vulnerable to Lo’s manipulative questions and temptations. Lo constantly tries to entice Justin to step outside the protective boundary, hinting at nefarious plans, including making a meal of his new master.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Justin (Ward Roberts): A love-sick man who summons a powerful demon in a desperate attempt to rescue his girlfriend kidnapped by other demons.
• The Demon Lo (Jeremiah Birkett): A crippled, silver-tongued demon summoned by Justin who agrees to help find April but harbors his own nefarious plans.
• April Oak (Sarah Lassez): Justin’s girlfriend who is kidnapped and taken to Hell by demons, serving as the motivation for his dangerous actions.
• The Demon Jeez (Devin Barry): A theatrical demon who appears in the conjured flashbacks, often providing humorous or musical interludes.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lo: “Look at you, pretending to be brave.” – Lo’s first words to Justin, immediately establishing his contempt and mocking his human attempt at control.
• Justin: “You have to do what I say.” – Justin desperately tries to assert his authority over the demon he has summoned, clinging to the rules of the ritual.
• Lo: “Dinner!” – Lo mockingly ‘baptizes’ Justin with a new name, indicating his intention to consume him.
• April: “There’s no logic in Hell.” – April tries to explain the irrational and chaotic nature of the demonic world and its inhabitants.
• Lo: “You need to understand… love is a beast.” – Lo offers a demonic perspective on love, highlighting its capacity for pain, destruction, and obsession.

💰Box Office

• Budget: Unknown
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: Unknown

💥 Lo Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I stumbled upon Lo on Netflix back in the day and had NO idea what I was getting into. I expected maybe a cheesy monster flick, but wow, it was something else entirely! The whole movie is basically one guy trapped in a circle talking to a demon, and it’s shot like a stage play. I thought that would be boring, but Lo (the demon) was hilarious and surprisingly deep, and his back-and-forth with Justin was genuinely entertaining. The flashbacks were weird and felt a bit too much like actual theater sometimes, but the overall story about love, obsession, and what happens when you try to rescue someone who doesn’t want to be rescued really stuck with me. The ending totally blew me away and made the whole strange journey worth it. I still think about that final scene sometimes!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of unique, experimental, or offbeat indie films”
  • “Viewers who appreciate horror-comedies with dark humor”
  • “Those interested in films with a theatrical or stage play feel”
  • “Audiences looking for unconventional romance stories”
  • “Cult film enthusiasts”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Contains horror elements and themes”
  • “Features demonic characters and concepts”
  • “Includes dark and potentially disturbing humor”
  • “Some gore and blood mentioned in reviews”

Professional Reviews

• Indie Film Quarterly: “Lo is a fascinating experiment, turning budgetary constraints into theatrical strengths. While the acting can be uneven and some comedic beats miss, Jeremiah Birkett’s portrayal of Lo is captivating. The witty, existential dialogue exploring love and hell holds surprising depth, making for a unique and memorable viewing experience.
• Horror Times: “More comedy than horror, Lo embraces its low-budget roots with a stage-play aesthetic that is either charming or grating, depending on your taste. The creature design and make-up are impressive for the scale, but the static setting and variable script keep it from achieving true cult classic status. Worth a watch for its sheer oddity and a surprisingly impactful ending.
• The Cinematic Oracle: “Travis Betz’s Lo is an acquired taste, operating almost entirely within a single space and driven by dialogue. The core concept is strong, blending dark comedy, romance, and philosophical musings on relationships. However, the deliberately amateurish presentation and inconsistent performances might alienate some viewers seeking a more polished product. A bold, if flawed, vision.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were captivated by the Demon Lo’s performance and personality.: Many appreciated the film’s originality, witty dialogue, and clever use of its low budget. The unique stage-play style and the surprising ending were frequently highlighted as standout elements.

The humor, though sometimes divisive, landed well with many who shared its specific, dark comedic sensibility.: Fans loved how the movie blended genres, offering a romantic story wrapped in horror and comedy. The simple setup allowed the writing and characters to take center stage.

Overall Consensus: Lo is a divisive but often celebrated indie horror-comedy, praised for its unique theatrical style, witty writing, and memorable demon character, despite its obvious low budget and occasional unevenness.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot in just three days, utilizing its single, simple set to its advantage.”
• “Despite the very low budget, the creature makeup and costumes, particularly for Lo, were praised by many viewers.”
• “The movie’s visual style and limited setting were intentionally designed to resemble a stage play, reinforcing the theatrical nature of the story.”
• “Writer and director Travis Betz drew heavily on the constraints of the low budget to shape the film’s unique aesthetic and narrative structure.”

🖥️ How to Watch Lo?

As a cult indie film, ‘Lo’ (2009) may have varied availability across streaming platforms. It was notably available on Netflix in the past, contributing to its cult status. Check major digital marketplaces like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play for rental or purchase options. Physical media like DVD may also be available.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Lo, you might like these similar films:

• The Evil Dead (1981): Shares the low-budget, independent horror roots and the theme of summoning evil entities, though ‘Lo’ leans much more into comedy and dialogue.
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): Explores the complexities and pain of love and relationships through a bizarre, non-linear, and somewhat fantastical lens, focusing on character interaction and emotional depth.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): A definitive cult classic known for its unique blend of horror, comedy, musical numbers, and bizarre characters within a limited, theatrical setting.
• Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006): A darkly comedic and quirky film set in a unique, dreary afterlife, focusing on a character’s journey to find a lost love, driven by dialogue and character relationships.
• Daniel Isn’t Real (2019): Features a protagonist dealing with a malevolent, manipulative entity that he has some control over, exploring themes of psychological struggle and control within a supernatural context.

🛒 Lo Related Products

• The Lesser Key of Solomon: Goetia: An original source text related to demonology, featuring descriptions and seals of various demons, including some mentioned in occult lore potentially inspiring cinematic creatures.
• Independent Filmmaking Handbook: A comprehensive guide to writing, directing, and producing films with limited resources, offering insights into the creative challenges and triumphs of low-budget cinema.
• Demonology Art Print Collection: A set of artistic prints featuring interpretations of various demons from mythology and folklore, capturing the dark, otherworldly aesthetics seen in films like Lo.
• Hell is Other Demons (Indie Game): A fast-paced, roguelite shooter with striking pixel art and intense boss fights, set in a vibrant, demon-filled underworld.

🎧 Soundtrack

Lo features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Ghost Patrol” – performed by Rondo Brothers

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

LO MAAN LIYA Lyrical | Raaz Reboot | Arijit Singh | Emraan Hashmi, Kriti Kharbanda, Gaurav Arora

Okay, but seriously, you can’t talk about Raaz Reboot without mentioning this track! Arijit Singh’s voice just hits different, and the lyrics for ‘Lo Maan Liya’ are so hauntingly beautiful – it totally captures the movie’s vibe, don’t you think?

✨ Rate