Coming Soon: Malignant
It should be no surprise at this point that I like hybrid horror films. I like stories that blur the bounds between different genres or subgenres. It always leads to some interesting ideas being explored, even if it’s just a slightly different lens on an established idea.
Malignant is in that crime thriller/paranormal slasher sweet spot that can be really exciting. Think films like Exorcist III, Shocker, or Profondo Rosso (Deep Red).
The concept is great. A woman sees visions of murders as they happen. Something has connected her to a serial killer and she doesn’t know what she can do. This is one of those high concept horrors you wish you came up with because it’s so easy to sell. Franchises are built on loglines like this.
Another big plus is James Wan. Wan is one of the best horror filmmakers working today, launching three iconic franchises: Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. He also wrote and directed one of my all time favorite horror films, Dead Silence, which does not get its proper due. If TikTok can reclaim As Above, So Below, they can reclaim Dead Silence. Please note that I adore As Above, So Below and even put it on my Best Picture list back in 2014.
I digress. Malignant is directed by Wan and adapted from a story he wrote for the screen with Ingrid Bisu (an actor in the film, also featured in The Nun and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It). James Wan is a master of creating terrifying worlds onscreen and the way the world decays around Madison (actor Annabelle Wallis) is incredible.
It should be no surprise that the trailer for Malignant has been attached to quite a few films I watched recently. It’s a great horror trailer. The poster is also reminiscent of the old Dario Argento posters, featuring the lead actress, cast in red, staring as the “i” in Malignant drops towards her eye like a dagger.
Malignant debuts this Friday, 10 September, in theaters and on HBO Max. Check out the trailer below.