Malignant

Malignant
Starring Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White
Directed by James Wan

The Italian Giallo subgenre, as described by Wikipedia (which is actually accurate despite other Wikipedia articles), is a unique form of thriller that has mystery or detective elements built into it, and often contains slasher, crime fiction, psychological thriller, psychological horror, and supernatural horror elements to it. Some well-known Giallo directors include the great Dario Argento (who's "Suspiria" remains one of the best Giallo horrors ever made), Francesco Barilli, Lucio Fulci, and Ruggero Deodato, and the genre as a whole has pretty much diminished to nothing in recent times. James Wan - an incredibly versatile director who's brought such horror iconic films like "The Conjuring," "Saw," and "Insidious" but also provided great action capers like "Aquaman" and "Furious 7" - has decided to throw his hat into the Giallo ring with "Malignant," and while he doesn't fully succeed in re-invigorating the subgenre, he does provide a wholly unique, crazy, and downright bonkers film that blends horror, mystery and action brilliantly, but is also one of those films that's incredibly divisive - either you'll love it, or you'll hate it. I, for one, loved every single insanity-laden second of it.

Madison (Annabelle Wallis) is not having a good life - she's pregnant with her abusive husband Derek (Jake Abel), and this is her fourth pregnancy after three miscarriages. After a heated argument with Derek, Madison goes to sleep and Derek is brutally murdered by a stranger in their home, and Madison is taken to the hospital. Her sister Sydney (Maddie Hasson) stays by her side, while detectives Shaw (George Young) and Moss (Michole Briana White) investigate the murder. Soon Madison has visions of other murders, and identifies the killer as Gabriel - a man that she has a connection with and who could've been her imaginary friend as a child, or something entirely more menacing.

When I saw the trailer, I honestly wasn't too excited for the movie. It seemed to me like a traditional James Wan horror film with the same filming style and horror elements that he encompasses with his other work, and while there's those moments, the movie goes in so many different wild directions that it'll give you a mental whiplash. Suffice it to say "Malignant" is James Wan's most daring film to date, and as I said earlier, either you'll love it or hate it.

Those who hate it go to the fact that the characters aren't exactly well-written, and to that end I'll tend to agree, but it doesn't detract from the wild ride it provides. Annabelle Wallis (who also starred in Wan's offshoot "Conjuring" universe film "Annabelle") does alright as Madison, but she also has to play a character who's harboring some intense psychological trauma that happened to her as a child, and not reveal too much to the audience. It's hard to maintain that tightrope act, and it leaves viewers seeing Madison as a slightly wooden stock character who is more reactionary to actionary (I know that's not a word but I don't care), and who adheres to the generic tropes of these types of crime horror drama action films. Maddie Hasson plays the typical supportive sister who turns amateur sleuth in order to save her sister from a possible murder charge (and also has the most hilarious soap opera reaction to a moment Madison shares with her that you'll know when you see it). George Young and Michole Briana White play your typical good cop/bad cop routine (respectively) as they investigate the growing body count as one suspects Madison but the other thinks someone else is responsible. Yes, these characters aren't anything new, but this film in a weird sense isn't about them.

This film, in essence, is about shock and awe. Just when you think the film is heading in one direction, it pulls a complete 180 and goes in a whole nother trajectory that's so far out in left field that it's downright laughable but not in a bad way. It's zany, crazy, nonsensical, and so far off the beaten path that it beats its own path on the side of the main beaten path. If you go into this film with the mindset of watching a traditional Wan horror film, you might be disappointed, but if you go in with an open mind, you'll be more than adequately pleased with the outcome, as this isn't just a horror movie, but it's a showcase of everything Wan has managed to produce to this point - both in the horror and the action genres as there's some truly amazing action set pieces here you'd expect to see in a John Wick movie instead of a Conjuring one.

Whereas there are moments you notice Wan's hand at his typical horror direction, "Malignant" is also filled with impressive visuals and use of lighting (which is another aspect of Giallo) that adds to the atmosphere. Seeing the rooms melt and change around Madison is fascinating, but there's one unique camera angle that's shot from above as she moves about the house that's visually impressive. Throw in some tense, synchronic music (which is also a Giallo staple), and you've got a very tense, mysterious, and all out bonkers horror action film that's really something you've never seen on screen before.

"Malignant" is James Wan's attempt at Giallo, and while doesn't fully succeed in re-invigorating the subgenre, he provides his most outlandish work to date, a film that's filled with exciting twists and turns and will have you on the edge of your seat and also laughing at the true perfect absurdity of it all - or you'll just hate it.

The Score: A+