Malignant
James Wan’s unintentionally hilarious new horror film marries Carl Reiner's All of Me with The Unborn.
Murder on her mind: Annabelle Wallis is seeing things
Although Malignant is very funny, it should be noted that it isn’t a spoof. In spite of the battery of clichés – the creaking doors, sudden apparitions, flickering lights, booming noises, long-haired spectres and those odd lamps that omit so little light (a standard of so many horror films) – Malignant would seem to take itself seriously.
Our heroine, Madison Mitchell (British scream queen Annabelle Wallis), lives in a fog-enshrouded house modelled on Norman Bates’ family gaff. In spite of the building’s slim exterior, on the inside it is filled with airy, spacious rooms. But all is not well within, as Maddie, now on her fourth pregnancy, is ritually beaten by her husband Derek (Jake Abel), who likes to watch violent videos while his wife is at work. Then, on one fateful night, Maddie ends up losing both her husband and her unborn child. Waking up in hospital, she resolves to turn her Seattle home into a fortress to keep out any more intruders – although we, the audience, know that the threat comes from within. All Maddie is doing is hindering her own escape and the welcome ministrations of her sister Sydney, played by Maddie Hasson. Incidentally, Annabelle Wallis and Maddie Hasson look nothing alike, so it comes as no surprise when it is revealed that our battered heroine is actually adopted. Wherein hangs a tale…
Malignant is the brainchild of James Wan, the Australian filmmaker who brought us the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring films, so he knows his horror. Here he’s trying something new, but while Malignant is an original slice of high concept, its uniqueness proves both ludicrous and laughable. And it’s a shame that its novelty is dressed up in such conventional trappings. There is a high body count, but the murders – which give the film its 18 certificate – are so gory that they verge on the silly (not to say implausible). Thus, Malignant occupies a world that reflects our own but doesn’t feel entirely real. Consequently, the cartoon violence fails to shock or engage, while the medley of routine characters holds no interest. Depending on one’s personality, one can either laugh or snore.
JAMES CAMERON-WILSON
Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michole Briana White, Jake Abel, Ingrid Bisu, Mckenna Grace, Marina Mazepa, Jean Louisa Kelly, Madison Wolfe, Susanna Thompson, Christian Clemenson, Mercedes Colon, Zoe Bell, Shaunte Johnson.
Dir James Wan, Pro James Wan and Michael Clear, Screenplay Akela Cooper, from a story by James Wan, Ingrid Bisu and Akela Cooper, Ph Michael Burgess, Pro Des Desma Murphy, Ed Kirk M. Morri, Music Joseph Bishara, Costumes Lisa Norcia.
New Line Cinema/Starlight Media Inc./My Entertainment Inc./Atomic Monster Productions-Warner Bros.
111 mins. USA/China. 2021. Rel: 10 September 2021. Cert. 18.
