A woman starts having horrible nightmares that turn out to be visions of actual violent crimes in which she is unwillingly involved.
Amazing opening shot followed by an hour and fifty minutes of Hollywood dumbness. I hate writing about films this way, especially horror films. I’ve said it numerous times. Horror fans might be somewhat eccentric and geeks, but we are not dumb! James Wan, especially New Line Cinema, should know and respect that. Even though the story is decent, its development is dumb, the character development is beyond understanding and that should stop! Let me rephrase: it should have stopped a long time ago. “Jump Scares” is a tool for narrative, not a narrative pattern, to build a whole film on. The same applies to the cardboard cut-out characters that no one can empathise with.
Why is it that you hear the word ‘dumb’ and its permutations again and again? Because a solid narrative does not rely on constant music to evoke the desired emotions and feelings. That applies to every genre, in this instance, though, for both the drama and the horror unfolding in the story. Take Winnie, for example, a Hollywood typical. Ingrid Bisu, often cast by Wan, is a wonderful woman (and actress), and she pretends to be a geek who the person she has a crush on won’t even consider looking her that way. Also, she seems like a cat person who can’t find love. PLEASE! Honestly, name one girl who looks like that, is a geek, and cannot find someone (she co-wrote it, by the way).
James Wan is a solid director. I especially love his tracking shots and his use of close-ups. But it’s not enough, though. Malignant’s script is full of plot holes, and that shows so much more on the big screen. And no filmmaking technique or decent acting can make that right. I wish I could be less harsh on the film, but trust me, I’m already holding my punches.
P.S. OK, the prison and police station sequences were gruesomely entertaining!
Please, don’t forget to share and subscribe. If you enjoy my work and dedication to films, please feel free to support me on https://www.patreon.com/kaygazpro. Any contribution is much appreciated and valued.
Solidarity for all the innocent lives who suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
