Malignant

So...uh...yeah...

Malignant is quite something. 

James Wan, one of Hollywood's consistently busiest directors, really wanted to go balls-to-the-wall with this one and it's probably not what you would expect. 

It comes from a director who's made an impact across a plethora of genres like superheroes and action, but who's most famously known for horror through the likes of Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring films.

Although I've never given him a perfect score, I generally really like Wan's films. He achieves a sense of scale that make them feel...big...even in the horror setting. 

Malignant is no different and, surprisingly, is almost a mix of all those types of genres - likely to the surprise of many audiences across the country right now. From the trailers - and Wan's previous work - you may expect this to be a scare fest, anchored more in slow, creepy moments with jump scares scattered throughout, encapsulated within a haunted house that includes camera tricks to up the fear. In some ways, that's accurate...for a time...but then it goes completely off the rails. 

And I f**king loved it. 

If you're looking for a surprise at the theaters, you really should just stop reading right there and check it out for yourself. There aren't any spoilers in this review, but you'll be able to get the picture by the time it's through. If critic and audience opinions are any indications for this one, you're likely to either love or hate this film. Your expectations may be the culprit because Wan's intention and vision is pretty clear: he basically just wants to have some damn fun with a crazy idea. If you're truly looking for something more like The Conjuring or Insidious and believed the trailers sold you such a film (to be fair, they do), then don't trust them. Sometimes, that kind of trickery can piss me off, but in this instance, I enjoyed the film we got far more than the film I thought I'd get. But trust me when I say there will be people who hate it (there already are critics tearing it apart). 

"And here...we...go...!"

Without giving too much away, we're introduced to Madison (Annabelle Wallis), who's trapped in an abusive relationship due to her pregnancy. After a tragic accident, her life starts spiraling out of control as she witnesses murders she's not a part of. Her and her sister - along with the police - begin investigating this phenomenon annnnnnddddd that's where I'll stop. Aside from a corny-as-hell final few moments, I was totally along for the ride with Malignant's big, dumb, but strangely awesome plot. A twist at the film's climax floored me to laughter, disgust, and shock and in my head, I heard myself think: "Ok...time to put on my seatbelt." Per usual, and regardless of the story, Wan's direction is on point here and it's easy to see that he's a natural talent who has gotten continuously better. Horror scenes have real tension, there's a noticeable and distinct vision in many key scenes, and the action sequences are top notch, awesome, and wildly gory.

The film just gels together in a way that was really working for me on a Saturday afternoon. It plays awesome in a theater (even though it's also on HBO Max) and despite nothing being outrageously "fantastic", it forms quite a fantastic film. The performances are fine, typical for what you'd expect from a horror film, but I can't sing anyone's praises in particular. The writing is good at best, but it gets the job done where it counts. Per usual with films that really stick with me, the "accoutrements", if you will, are what really send this home. The cinematography and aforementioned vision create some gripping scenes and make them memorable, where under any other director they could have faltered easily. The editing and pacing was excellent, even if the film is a little too long (it's still under 2 hours). And of course, it has an original score that's honestly as bonkers as the film itself with almost a Doom-esque opening guitar riff, a more classic horror score that creeps throughout, then a random, remixed use of Pixies' Where is My Mind? throughout that hits great effect, and some synth-action music that's just *chef's kiss*. In so many ways, you may fall off the train here and think "Wow, this is stupid" but damn, was I on board for basically all of this.

To say much more about Malignant would be too revealing and I've already probably said too much but I did give a warning, to be fair. It's these types of films where it'll depend so much on what you think it's going to be, what mood you're in, and how all the pieces - from the action to the horror to the music - fit together for you. I can almost guarantee a few of my readers will watch the film and think I'm crazy. Fair. 

But sometimes crazy can be fun as hell. 

CONS

• The final moments has some cringe writing that tries to circle back on a theme that wasn't all that powerful to begin with
• Slightly too long
• Performances are fine, none are outstanding

PROS

•  Wan's just wanting to have fun with a wild idea here. He succeeds and successfully blends many of his previous genres into a roller coaster ride
• There's a distinct vision in many scenes here, captured by talented cinematography
• Editing and pacing are on point
• Goes off the f**king rails near the end and the twist is just...like...WTF? 
• Excellent action and gore
• Secret weapon: use of music across several genres. Synths make for an awesome vibe, classic horror nails the tone in key scenes, and the "Where's is My Mind?" remix kicks at just the right moments
• All of this came together for me. I was never bored and would watch it again, easily

Rath's Review Score | 8.5/10