Malignant

Directed by James Wan, Malignant follows Annabelle Wallis’ Madison as she begins experiencing visions of murders committed by a mysterious (and disfigured) assailant. Filmmaker Wan, working from Akela Cooper’s screenplay, delivers an erratic endeavor that fares especially poorly in its hit-and-miss first half, as the movie, which runs an overlong 111 minutes, is initially saddled with a sluggish pace, a woefully bland protagonist, and elements of a watchable yet far-from-spectacular variety – with the latter reflected most keenly in a narrative that is, at the outset, peppered with almost egregiously conventional elements (including a fairly tedious investigation into the killer’s backstory). It’s clear, then, that Malignant, which remains watchable throughout thanks mostly to Wan’s energetic handling of the material, improves considerably once it progresses into its increasingly insane and over-the-top third act, with the movie’s transformation into a wholeheartedly engrossing endeavor triggered by a wildly unpredictable twist that effectively (and completely) infuses the proceedings with a much-needed burst of energy and excitement. The inclusion of two balls-to-the-wall interludes in Malignant‘s final stretch ultimately cements its place as an uneven yet thoroughly satisfying horror effort, and it’s not difficult to envision, certainly, the movie earning a place for itself within the pantheon of top-notch, less-than-subtle cult classics.

*** out of ****