Malignant

Horror master James Wan's latest film, Malignant, is certainly a mix of strange, terrifying, and at times over the top that you wouldn't have expected from the trailers alone. Annabelle Wallis plays Madison Lake, a pregnant Seattle nurse with an abusive husband who after a confrontation with him he is soon murdered by a mysterious figure that attacks her and causes a miscarriage. Soon after that same figure kidnaps a woman and goes after and kills doctors, to which Madison has visions of, that links it and Madison from before she was adopted in 1993. With the help of her adopted sister and the police detectives in charge of the investigation, Madison learns about her long forgotten past and the surprising reveal of what the figure, calling himself Gabriel, actually is. Don't want to reveal way too much and not to spoil a huge reveal, but just to get one aspect out of the way, Gabriel is a living tumor that was attached to Madison's, or Emily May beforehand, back that the doctors, which Gabriel is killing, attempted to surgically remove. There are aspects to this movie that I definitely didn't expect and found to be original, but many of the same ideas are also executed in a very outlandish and over the top way. However, you can't deny how atmospheric and tense it is thanks to the cinematography, scoring, and Wan's direction. While what we later learn about Gabriel is interesting and explains some aspects, like his unique movements by contortionist Marina Mazepa or the visions Madison has, the fact that he has super strength and is able to control electricity is never explained and feels out of nowhere so as to make us think it's something else. So however you feel about Gabriel's reveal or abilities, there's no denying that Ray Chase's voice performance adds to his creepiness. Another facet to this movie that elevates it are the performances from the rest of the cast, including McKenna Grace as the younger Madison, Maddie Hasson as her adopted sister, and Susanna Thompson as Madison's adopted mother. So while Malignant has a lot of things that make it rather silly, there are far more stuff in it that still make it an engaging, fun, and tantalizing horror movie. Over all: 96%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

3. The Green Knight

4. Candyman 2021

5. The Suicide Squad

6. Free Guy

7. Nobody

8. Black Widow

9. A Quiet Place Part II

10. Respect

11. Raya and the Last Dragon

12. Malignant

13. Jungle Cruise

14. Cruella

15. Wrath of Man

16. F9

17. Snake Eyes

18. Old

19. Space Jam: A New Legacy