According to the Internet, James Wan's Malignant is either brilliant or terrible. I'm going to settle for "fun" and recommend it to people who enjoy the kind of cult horror films of the 80s, where a bonkers premise is taken to term with insane twists, the ones that give you laughs among the scares. I could name some movies that share DNA with Malignant, but that would probably spoil plot details. Seeing as the movie keeps you guessing - remix of other movies or not - I'd rather not. Personally, I don't mind it when a horror flick gets goofy, and this is probably my favorite of Wan's horror films I've seen. My favorite bit nevertheless has to be the Pixies riff used as the monster's theme. We're talking about an overused song that, given this new sound, almost hidden inside the score, gives it new life. (It's also a clue which is why I don't name it outright.) Somewhere bubbling deep in the background is the fear/guilt of pregnant women - one gives birth to a deformed child, another struggles with miscarriages - feeling there was something wrong with them in some way. But that's DEEP in the background. I've never felt Wan was especially in control of the themes evoked by his films, and this one isn't any different.
It can't decide if it wants to be a boring "serious" horror movie with generic characters and bad dialog or an insanely absurd schlock-fest. Consequently it just ends up being a badly stitched version of both, which doesn't compliment either one and fully exposes their many faults.
What a disappointment. Not scary in the least bit. The first hour and a half was pretty boring, but actually had a decent twist in the last half hour. Still it was a little unbelievable though. 6/10, not a complete waste of time but just don't go into it with high expectations for a psychological horror thriller.
A lot of bad stuff here, but you know what, there was just enough originality to make it fun. Good, messed up twist and then an entertaining finale. But the first two thirds are really dumb.
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Comments 1 - 9 of 9
Siskoid
According to the Internet, James Wan's Malignant is either brilliant or terrible. I'm going to settle for "fun" and recommend it to people who enjoy the kind of cult horror films of the 80s, where a bonkers premise is taken to term with insane twists, the ones that give you laughs among the scares. I could name some movies that share DNA with Malignant, but that would probably spoil plot details. Seeing as the movie keeps you guessing - remix of other movies or not - I'd rather not. Personally, I don't mind it when a horror flick gets goofy, and this is probably my favorite of Wan's horror films I've seen. My favorite bit nevertheless has to be the Pixies riff used as the monster's theme. We're talking about an overused song that, given this new sound, almost hidden inside the score, gives it new life. (It's also a clue which is why I don't name it outright.) Somewhere bubbling deep in the background is the fear/guilt of pregnant women - one gives birth to a deformed child, another struggles with miscarriages - feeling there was something wrong with them in some way. But that's DEEP in the background. I've never felt Wan was especially in control of the themes evoked by his films, and this one isn't any different.Sviggolo
Hilarious! Laughed so hard! Stupid and bad in all the good ways! James Wan must have been on a lot of coke when he made this!Toastinator
It wasn't really scary but I still had a pretty good time.9No
It can't decide if it wants to be a boring "serious" horror movie with generic characters and bad dialog or an insanely absurd schlock-fest. Consequently it just ends up being a badly stitched version of both, which doesn't compliment either one and fully exposes their many faults.nowhereman136
laughably bad dialogue had the whole audience laughing by the end8/10
ryano1076
What a disappointment. Not scary in the least bit. The first hour and a half was pretty boring, but actually had a decent twist in the last half hour. Still it was a little unbelievable though. 6/10, not a complete waste of time but just don't go into it with high expectations for a psychological horror thriller.armyofshadows
A lot of bad stuff here, but you know what, there was just enough originality to make it fun. Good, messed up twist and then an entertaining finale. But the first two thirds are really dumb.Marcus Fenix
It had potential, very impressive beginning, but as the movie went on it faded away and in the end it just became Stupid!Pedr20
This is the only good James Wan movie, and It's because It's bad.