Malignant
2021 · Directed by James Wan
Original language: English
- horror
- mystery
The story
Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities with a mysterious tie to her past.
What it’s like
Saturated, gaudy colour and a restless camera define this one: sudden whip pans, hard zooms, and a sweeping, almost giddy kineticism that hops between a grey rain-soaked Seattle, sterile hospital corridors, and dim, shadowy houses lit by flickering practicals and sickly blue-green glow. The score is a jolting mix of slashing strings, thudding percussion, and sudden silence before the stings, and the sound design lingers on wet footsteps, drips, and the creak of old wood. The vibe is lurid and pulpy, a fever-dream mood with a playful, almost campy wink beneath the dread. It suits a late-night watch with the lights off and someone to shriek at, or a loud, unserious Friday with friends. Pacing is brisk and escalating, with frequent jolts and reveals, and the emotional register swings between panic, grim humour, and sincere unease around a woman trying to make sense of her own mind. Intensity is high: frequent graphic gore, brutal stabbings and killings, and disturbing violence, delivered with a lot of visible blood. This is for horror fans who enjoy twisty mysteries, over-the-top set pieces, and genre excess rather than anything gentle or restrained.
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