After her husband is killed, a woman begins having visions of
brutal murders that are somehow tied to her repressed childhood. HORROR
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Malignant (2021)Directed by James Wan
Written by Akela Cooper Starring Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White, Jean Louisa Kelly, Jake Abel, Marina Mazepa |
Hollywood's horror output has been pretty light this year so far, with very few films actually standing out. Candyman, Spiral, and A Quiet Place Part II stand out as some of the best, and I have very high hopes for Halloween Kills. Malignant was always gonna be a wild card. I have faith in James Wan, but new concepts are tentative. Frankly, I never should've been apprehensive, because this film is fucking crazy. With Wan's signature style of just pure ghostly mindfuckery, Malignant takes the audience to a place I don't think has been touched in horror, at least not in America. Don't quote me on that.
Madison (Wallis) is a pregnant woman in an abusive marriage. One day, her husband Derek (Abel) is brutally murdered in a supposed home invasion, triggering a series of insane events, all of which are somehow connected to Madison's repressed childhood and an imaginary friend named Gabriel. I don't want to spoil the reveal, but it's fucking bananas. You can tell Wan sought influence from the Italian Giallos of Argento and Fulci, particularly with some of the grisly but artistic murder scenes. I've got some minor gripes, but that's mostly with the lack of resolution at the end and an entire (admittedly badass) action sequence where Gabriel is basically a goddamn ninja. But I digress. Malignant is a wild ride that is not at all what you think it's going to be. Leave it to James Wan to bring something new to a genre that has done almost everything to death, then raised it from the grave, and did it again. The score is exciting and terrifying, the practical effects are insane, and the performances are great too. So much to rave about here. |
After establishing himself with three of the biggest franchises in horror history, James Wan would go on to more mainstream fair to even bigger fair. Both of the franchises he came onto would signify huge profits at the box office with his directed films. To the point where he shall be making a return trip to Atlantis in the near future. Before he does that, though, there was an itch he needed to scratch. One which beckoned him back to the genre he loves so much: horror. Luckily for us fans, he was more interested in something new and original instead of coming back to one of his still ongoing franchises. Influenced by his love of Giallos and wanting to give the audience something different to watch, Wan would go back to the horror genre to make something truly special. Something unlike you haven’t seen from him before. Something malignant.
I want to start with the previously mentioned Giallo influence I mentioned earlier. This is important because if you go in expecting the standard type of horror film synonymous with Wan, you will be severely disappointed. But if you go in with a knowledge of his influences and him wanting to do something different, you will be entertained. This is a film which only could have been pulled off with his clout in the not just the genre, but the industry in general. Now, the influences. The plot starts in a crazy place and just goes from there. The music feels like if Goblin themselves were still composing films and adding a bit of a heavy metal vibe to it. The killer’s look is ripped straight from the Giallos. And that’s just the big stuff. There’re also the shots of eyes and even something as small as the color of the main character’s hair. On this alone, you’re either on board or not. Also, the gore. As far as him actively directing, this is the goriest film Wan has done with some pretty awesome carnage candy. Now, the ending. While I absolutely loved and applauded where this ending went, just know this may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Admittedly, this is a hard film to review. Mainly due to not wanting to spoil anything. But know this is one of the craziest, bonkers, go for broke mainstream horror releases I’ve seen recently. And I loved every second of it. This is a horror movie made by a master of the genre for the fans. Either you’re in for the wild ride or you’re not. Personally, not only was I on for it, I can’t wait to take this ride again. |