A new work by horror film master James Wan, 'Malignant', has been released. Should the viewer expect a masterpiece on the level of 'Saw' or 'The Conjuring'?

James Wan has long established himself as a master of horror films. Thanks to him, the 'Saw' and 'The Conjuring' franchises were born. He knows how to immerse you in a world of fear and terror, even without taking events beyond the confines of a room or a house. So how did his new film 'Malignant' turn out?

Deceived Expectations

'Malignant' tells the story of a young woman named Madison. Her life changes dramatically in an instant – her husband, who repeatedly abused her, dies under unknown circumstances, and she loses her child during a home invasion. At the same time, mysterious and brutal murders of doctors begin to occur in the city. They are all linked by their shared work in the 90s. How is Madison connected to these events? That's what the film's characters and the audience will have to figure out.

What we have before us is a film that doesn't make your blood run cold. While watching, you don't flinch at every rustle. The viewer is presented with a cinematic attraction full of blood. Even though at the start of the plot it might seem like we're in for a classic 'run-around-the-house' scenario, where a scare awaits around every corner, along with door slams and similar tricks.

In the first few minutes, the director, by design, gives the audience a full set of classic horror film techniques. Flickering lights, TVs turning on abruptly. The use of the 'God's Eye' shot also fits harmoniously. Alfred Hitchcock was one of the first to use this technique. The viewer looks down on all the events from above. This method is most often used in chase or murder scenes — the viewer looks down in judgment on the killer, powerless to help the victim.

Those who have seen my old work must have come to the cinema and thought in the first few minutes that I had started making my typical films again — that's when I'll catch them. I don't like to repeat myself.

Let's Talk About the Pros

• Wan creates a story that's not banal. Almost until the very end, the nature of the film's 'evil' is unclear. Who or what is it? A ghost, a failed experiment, or something more? It makes you want to wait for the final scenes to unravel all the mysteries and piece all the puzzle pieces together.
• The viewer gets to be part of thrilling action scenes. For those who don't like a lot of blood, some scenes might seem particularly brutal.
• Without quality music, there's no quality visuals. The modern musical score adds a few points to the tingle in the viewer's nerves.

So what's wrong with the film 'Malignant'?

Unfortunately, it's worth noting that the acting here is lacking. Against the backdrop of the magnetic Annabelle Wallis, known for the series 'The Tudors' and 'Peaky Blinders', the other actors become a bland backdrop. The cop characters, for instance, seem clichéd, and in some scenes, it feels like the actors playing them are about to break character and start laughing, like in outtakes.

Another downside can be considered the localization of the film in domestic distribution. The original title is Malignant, which literally translates to 'злокачественная' (meaning malignant/bad). In that case, the viewer could already guess the origin story of the film's main antagonist. However, the title 'Злое' ('Evil') gives full rein to the imagination in defining the genre. Ghosts, restless souls, dark forces could be in charge in a film with such a title. And this could confuse the viewer when deciding whether to watch it.

So what do we end up with?

In conclusion, the film 'Malignant' feels more like an attempt by James Wan to return to the horror genre between filming the 'Aquaman' duology. At the same time, the director blended numerous genres: sci-fi, thriller, horror, detective, and occasionally an action film with a revenge theme at its core. To some extent, the film feels more like playing a computer game – beautiful transitions between visions, chase scenes from point A to point B. Yes, it's not classic Wan, but the film deserves the attention of horror enthusiasts.

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