while "Malignant" clearly reflects the filmmaker's love for classic giallo, it feels less an homage than the sort of half-baked imitation conceived as the result of a dare
there's a hodge-podge of ideas going on that don’t always seamlessly fit, but James Wan's homage to '80s horror and Annabelle Wallis's fretful performance, has a bloody lot of guts
the latest from James Wan has a wonderful trick up its sleeve that's worth waiting around for; Gory, inventive and delightfully ludicrous, "Malignant" is a surprisingly fun blood-splattered thrill ride that keeps taking new and twisty turns
the influences of Italian cinema are felt throughout Malignant, and I enjoyed how much Wan leans into the mind-boggling nature of giallos and just lets loose here with a narrative that takes some wild swings, and it all works exceedingly well
the director's return to horror is a triumph of craft; It’s hard to say whether a film this bonkers “works” or not, but it’s impossible not to admire both the craft and the extravagant bad taste behind its go-for-broke energy
thanks to director James Wan's exhilarating directorial style and a fresh take, this over-the-top, sometimes silly Frankenstein -like patchwork of old horror movie ideas becomes demented fun
it's spectacular, nuanced, intelligent, compelling, and scary as hell. It’s also hugely entertaining; Unexpected twists, masterful storytelling, stunning cinematography, and a brilliant cast make James Wan's "Malignant" truly exceptional
it's beautifully photographed, with Gaillo-influenced uses of color that accentuate the strangeness of the plot; Parts of Malignant are jaw-droppingly violent, other parts darkly funny; Wan and Akela Cooper want to give us sights we've never seen before
"Malignant" sits somewhere between a slasher, a ghost story, and a possession flick, never fully embracing any of those different spins on the horror formula; The result is a confusing melange of genre archetypes that lacks a clear point of view
by Heather Wixson [Daily Dead ]
by Meagan Navarro [Bloody Disgusting ]
by Mike McGranaghan [Aisle Seat ]
