Writer/Director James Wan returns to his horror roots (Saw, The Conjuring) with Malignant, an effective thriller that delivers some shocking moments.
In
1993, a research facility attempts to contain a growing, powerful threat of an enraged boy named Gabriel who exhibits
paranormal abilities. Flash forward to the present in Seattle, and a
young woman, Madison (Annabelle Wallis), experiences terrifying visions of
vengeful murders by a mysterious figure that is somehow related to her past.
She has also experienced enormous, personal loss in her life and is haunted by
a traumatic childhood. Detectives are baffled, and as the grisly crimes point
to her as a suspect, a devastating secret emerges and with it a powerful evil
that threatens Madison’s family and beyond.
There
is effective use of dark, saturated colors to establish an ominous mood as well
as sound and visual effects that vividly depict Madison’s psyche. The film functions at first as a mystery and
becomes all out horror on a personal level when the truth emerges. Among the best
moments is an astonishing sequence that shows
the full fury of the menace as it begins in a crowded jail cell and spills over
to the police station.
Thematically
the film is focused on the meaning of family and blood relations. What is
Madison’s connection to the killer? Is she the killer, or is it all in her
mind? And is her imaginary childhood friend a figment of her imagination? The truth is a stunner.
With
similar vibes to the original Halloween
and Psycho, it’s best not to make too much sense of the plot and enjoy the ride.
It’s a fairly entertaining piece of horror genre especially if you don’t take
it too seriously.
***
of **** stars (for horror fans)
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