James Wan is one of the most prominent directors and writers in the horror film industry today. For the most part, I am a fan of his work, as one of my favorite horror films of all time is Insidious. However, with the release of the past couple of Conjuring films, I have been a little disappointed in his most recent work.
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Walking into Malignant I was intrigued to see a horror film directed and written by James Wan, the first one since The Conjuring 2. The film Wan has created is a masterpiece of horror and suspense, now ranking among my favorite horror films to date. Madison Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis) is plagued by unclear memories from her past that seem to be haunting her dreams and her reality. When this sinister being starts to manifest itself from her mind into the real world, Madison must not only try to destroy it but understand why she can see these visions.
Malignant is very much in the spirit of Brian DePalma and Dario Argento films from the 70s and 80s. After seeing a new wave of horror, styled in a very modern way in the past ten years or so, I was delighted to see James Wan mirror some of the greats while using modern directorial techniques and shots. The film has a modern flair that feels nostalgic in all the right aspects, such as plot twists and turns. I couldn’t help but enjoy the dramatic, almost psychedelic ‘Avengers’ like score that played after suspenseful one-liners spoken by the characters.
I wouldn’t say Malignant has a twist, as it plays out more of an investigative horror with a shocking conclusion. The climax of the film lasts about 30 minutes or so, which allows Wan to play out the shocking conclusion with a lot more attention and screen time than normal ‘twists.’ Watching the entire thing play out is what will divide audiences. James Wan’s ability to create a story so outrageous solidifies his originality and fearlessness to write a film that is all his own. At the core, this film is an examination of trauma and ultimately how we have the strength to fight against our past trauma.
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Although the metaphor is clearly displayed, the idea that repressed thoughts and experiences will manifest themselves at different points in our lives is a reality. However, Wan shows that just as trauma can take hold of us, we can take hold of it and find our own strength to heal from it. Malignant is an overall terrifying film that proves that James Wan has so much more to offer and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
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