Starring: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White, Jean Louisa Kelly, Jake Abel, Jacqueline McKenzie
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Runtime: 111 mins. Reviewed in Nov 2021
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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Malignant can refer to a deadly growth and to malevolent attitudes. Both are relevant to this horror/ science fiction story (which also offers scientific explanations) of a woman who sees grim killings of doctors who worked for special children’s care.
Malignant is a top title for a horror film. It has evil inbuilt in the very word. Malignant is malign and malevolent. And that is to the fore in James Wan’s most recent horror contribution (Wan being the director of the original Saw as well as directing two Insidious episodes and two Conjuring episodes and producing a great deal more – though varying his interests and style with DC Comics’ Aquaman and its sequel.)
Malignant can refer to an unwelcome growth such as cancer, or also refer to grimly hostile attitudes. Both are relevant in this story.
The film opens with Dr Weaver (McKenzie) talking to camera about the work she is doing with special children when she is interrupted by one of them, Gabriel, having a violent outbreak. He wreaks violence, killing staff but is eventually subdued. However, Gabriel does not remain subdued for long and makes increasingly ominous re-appearances in the present day.
Our focus turns to Madison (Wallis) who is pregnant. She arrives home from work, and a clash with her alcoholic husband results in him knocking her against the wall and with her hitting the back of her head – which, we will eventually realise, has some devastating consequences. Madison goes to hospital, loses the baby. But, she is disturbed by a sinister presence that she has experienced in her house. Her sister, Sidney, is supportive (Hasson). A detective, K (Young) is earnestly sympathetic while his partner, Regina (White) remains steadfastly cynical, especially regarding theories that involve the supernatural.
The film proceeds steadily but, about halfway through, the tension rises significantly, when Madison experiences Gabriel’s attack on Dr Weaver. Madison is at home but with effective special effects, walls come down and transform into the room where the killing is taking place. It is more than Madison witnessing the attack, she is there. And this recurs several times.
We are now in the horror vein. Gabriel let loose, the detective pursuing him through the streets, into subterranean ruins of old buildings. And Gabriel shows no mercy and a dreadful propensity for massacre, of medical staff, of police in the precinct headquarters.
While this continues the horror conventions, the film moves back into the science field, and takes on something of science-fiction aspects while offering numerous scientific explanations, the family and the detective researching documents, Sidney going to a most sinister abandoned building where the treatment of the children took place, finding videos with Dr Weaver spelling out what happened.
The solution has frightening elements in itself, Madison and her relationship with Gabriel, the story of her mother and her adoption, medical treatment – and the building up of a psychic and physical confrontation between Madison and Gabriel.
Here is a horror film which takes itself seriously, using the conventions but presenting them in an upmarket style, inviting a broader audience than just the fans.
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