Malignant

 Year:  2021

Director:  James Wan

Screenplay:  Akela Cooper, from a story by James Wan, Ingrid Bisu and Akela Cooper

Starring:  Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White

Running Time:  111 minutes

Genre:  Horror

Seattle, present day:  Madison Lake Mitchell (Wallis) begins having terrifying visions of horrific murders, and comes to realise that the murders are actually happening.  As she comes under suspicion by the police, Madison and her sister Sydney (Hasson) try to track down the real killer.

Writer/director James Wan came to the attention of horror fans with the films Saw (2004) and The Conjuring (2013).  While Malignant isn't as good as either of them, it still contains plenty of Wan's trademark gore and slick visual style, in fact it seems like there is barely a minute where the camera is not at some odd angle or in motion.  It feels strangely retro as well, the look and feel of the film is very much that of a 1990s slasher film, with the slick visuals, fast cuts and over the top  Grand Guignol and elaborate production design, where every character seems to live in an expensive, palatial house or flat.  It also feels like a 1970s Italian giallo film, complete with black-gloved killer, nonsensical plot and elaborate, gruesome set-pieces.  The story is absolutely ridiculous, the dialogue is cliched, some of the special effects are mediocre and the performances can be politely described as variable.  In saying that however, the film has kind of a winning energy, there is some excitement to be had, and the key revelation is quite well done.  This is the kind of film that is probably best experienced in a late night showing at the local cinema with like-minded fans, or with some friends after a few drinks.  Silly and over the top it may be, but it is fun.

Annabelle Wallis in Malignant