While I didn’t find “Malignant” as scary or terrifying as some, it certainly wins points for its gruesome deaths and unique special effects.
Outside of that it’s just a female-centric version of the Victorian urban legend of “Edward Mordake.”
Now, I know that not everyone is a fan of Victorian urban legends and stories like I am, so, allow me to explain.
According to the legend, Mordake was born in the 19th century with a face at the back of his head.
It was said that the face could whisper, grab objects, laugh or cry.
Mordake begged doctors to remove it, repeatedly, claiming it whispered bad things to him at night, before committing suicide at the age of 23.
So, take that story but with a female lead, add a touch of supernatural electrical phenomena, amnesia and you’ve got Malignant.
Malignant is an American horror film directed by James Wan from a screenplay by Akela Cooper, based on an original story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper.
The film stars Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White, Christian Clemenson, Amir AboulEla, Jake Abel, Susanna Thompson, Jean Kelly, and Jacqueline McKenzie.
The film is rated R for strong horror violence and gruesome images, and for language and is one hour and 51 minutes long.
In 1993, Dr. Florence Weaver (McKenzie) and her colleagues Victor Fields (Clemenson) and John Gregory (AboulEla) treat a psychiatric patient named Gabriel at Simion Research Hospital.
Gabriel has special powers like controlling electricity and broadcasting his thoughts via speakers.
One night, Gabriel turns violent and kills several staff members of the institution.
Twenty-eight years later, Madison Lake (Wallis), a pregnant woman living in Seattle, returns home to her husband, Derek Mitchell (Abel), after her pregnancy causes her to feel ill at work.
During an argument, Derek smashes Madison’s head against a wall after which she locks herself in the bedroom and falls asleep.
Madison later wakes up to find Derek’s body after having a dream of a man entering their house and violently killing him.
The killer, still being in the house, attacks Madison, rendering her unconscious.
The next morning, Madison wakes up in a hospital and is informed by her sister Sydney (Hasson) that Madison had a miscarriage due to the attack.
After being interviewed by police detective Kekoa Shaw (Young) and his partner Regina Moss (White), Madison returns home.
That same hour, Gabriel kidnaps a woman running the Seattle Underground Tour.
Madison sees another dream about Gabriel murdering Weaver.
During their investigation, Shaw and Moss discover a photo of Madison as a child in Weaver’s house and learn that she specialized in child reconstructive surgery.
Madison and her sister approach the police after Madison watches Gabriel murder Fields.
Gabriel contacts Madison via cellphone, causing her to remember her past.
She and her sister visit their mother, Jeanne (Thompson), to learn more.
Madison realizes that Gabriel wasn’t her imaginary friend but someone real whom she talked to during her childhood.
Shaw finds a link between the doctors and Madison, which leads him to discover Gregory’s dead body.
The detectives enlist the help of a psychiatric hypnotherapist, hoping to unlock Madison’s memories.
By far, this is when the storyline picks up and gets much more interesting.
Malignant is available in theaters and via streaming on the HBO Max app.
