James Wan takes a couple of ambitious strides away from his comfort zone with 'Malignant' - a subversive, gory, and utterly bonkers horror thriller - and the result is really fun.
Because it tries to be different, the opening stages felt a bit unwieldy, but once you get on Wan's wavelength, 'Malignant's story really begins to command your attention. The third act twist is insanely good - and what follows is a series of ultra-gory, grindhouse-styled set-pieces sure to please horror fans.
The cinematography and editing are of a high standard you expect from a James Wan film, but a strong mention must go to Joseph Bishara and his incredible soundtrack, which is one of my favourites of the year; it feels like a mix of pieces from all his previous collaborations with Wan: loud, chilling, experimental... and it works perfectly in tandem with the imagery on screen and the unfurling of the narrative.
The moody lighting evokes some of Dario Argento's classic giallo films of the 70s and 80s, often flooding the frame with ominous reds, so this was an instant plus for me too. Overall, I had a great time with 'Malignant' - which was one of my most anticipated films of the year - and look forward to what its director can come up with next.
8/10.
Because it tries to be different, the opening stages felt a bit unwieldy, but once you get on Wan's wavelength, 'Malignant's story really begins to command your attention. The third act twist is insanely good - and what follows is a series of ultra-gory, grindhouse-styled set-pieces sure to please horror fans.
The cinematography and editing are of a high standard you expect from a James Wan film, but a strong mention must go to Joseph Bishara and his incredible soundtrack, which is one of my favourites of the year; it feels like a mix of pieces from all his previous collaborations with Wan: loud, chilling, experimental... and it works perfectly in tandem with the imagery on screen and the unfurling of the narrative.
The moody lighting evokes some of Dario Argento's classic giallo films of the 70s and 80s, often flooding the frame with ominous reds, so this was an instant plus for me too. Overall, I had a great time with 'Malignant' - which was one of my most anticipated films of the year - and look forward to what its director can come up with next.
8/10.