Director: James Wan
Notable Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson,
George Young, Michole Briana White, Jake Abel, Ray Chase
There’s intriguing divisiveness that exists around James
Wan and the popularity he has achieved with his films. The divisiveness that, in
all honesty, I am not sure I fully understand. Perhaps it's one of those
situations where individuals feel attacked because a non-mainstream genre has
suddenly had some crossover into mainstream territory and that’s offensive to
them. My love for the director, writer, and producer has certainly earned me
some ill will from very boisterous negative commentators, but quite frankly, I
find his style of modernizing classic genres and giving them his own auteur
twist is fun and refreshing.
After dropping one of the biggest box office hits ever (edit:
I just looked it up - yes, it currently resides in the top 25 globally) in Aquaman,
Wan - in all of his audacity - took his massive blank check and used it on Malignant.
Granted, Wan has always been one to go back to his mid-budget horror films in
between larger projects as a director. Not to mention, he always keeps one foot
in the door as a producer to shepherd in new talent under his guidance, but Malignant
is next level. Not only does this film deliver on the usual Wan elements -
atmosphere, supernatural aspects, and sharp visuals, but its absurd blending of
genres, mixed with a hyperkinetic build in its pacing, and a blisteringly
outlandish third act make it one of the most potent “instant cult classic”
films I’ve ever had the chance to see. Malignant is brash in its love
letter to the past but also brings such strange energy to the fold that it
slices n’ dices its way to being one of the best of the year.