One underrated joke in the film IMO was when Madison's sister drives to the House on Haunted Hill hospital and when she pulls up it's broad daylight, and then she pulls her car into the driveway to park and it's the middle of the night, all so that she can walk into a spooky hospital to see some Session 9 chairs and Candyman graffiti.
that prison scene and the way the pieces came together before that moment was honestly just fucking epic to experience at a movie theater one of my most memorable cinema experiences for sure
You know what's the second best thing of being a horror fan? To come here after watching the films and hearing your takes on them. Thank you so much for covering such a wide range of horror and always being so enthusiastic about it ❤
in fact, if you look closely at the last few seconds of the film, focusing on the light bulb, you can hear a very faint electric sound, demonstrating that Gabriel's powers are still active, but very very weak... thanks for your review, I agree with points raised, great video as always!
@@spookyastronauts Hmmm interesting, I hadn't thought of it that way, it also makes sense from your point of view, the symbolism of trying to turn on the light, but it ends up making a burning noise before it stops working. And that just shows how this movie grows and brings new discussions every time we analyze a little bit more, unlike most movies lately! it's always great when a movie surprises us, even though it's bad, cheesy and bonkers, but in a good way!
Man, the more I think about this film, the more I love it. Far from perfect, but it's a cool-ass horror film, yes, a COOL horror film. I was thoroughly entertained. In a time where we have tons of haunted-house films and flicks full of jump-scares, this felt refreshing as hell. Cheesy and goofy, but also disturbing and exciting at times. I do feel that this was indeed made for horror fans.
Yesss! and I think part of why it's so cool is that it's original. Like actually ORIGINAL, written for the screen, for THIS movie, not a remake, reboot, adaptation or spinoff, and I didn't realise how starved I was for that until I got this served up to me
Just saw this last night at the theater. Honestly I had a fun time watching it even with all the flaws or trolling or whatever drugs James Wan was on when he made it lmao. It was creative to say the least. The chair throw absolutely cracked me up though it was just so unnecessary haha Gabriel was just being a dick.
THANK YOU! I've been wracking my brain trying to remember what movie this reminded me of that had the twin in the brain. That eye in the brain in The Dark Half, holy crap. Yes, it definitely reminded me of this movie, too.
amazing review! i kind of loved how people focused on just about anything and everything. like the sister parking on edge of the cliff, or the size of the house and police station, or the costumes of the ladies in the jail cell... kind of loved how obsessed twitter became with these "easter eggs" that were basically hollow chocolate treats! I honestly thought the trailer was giving me "The Entity" (1982) vibes and I was blown away just allowing the story to happen before me.
Yeah you could "hear" the electricity at the end though, I'm glad he didn't cheapen it..also I re-watched it and there's a part mid way through where Madison is coming around from hypnosis, and she literally says something along the lines of Gabrielle being a memory buried in the back of her head.. it makes so much more sense second time around, and this film is totally in the same universe as Fight Club.
Really great movie, Jeff, no doubt. BUT let's not forget that Sam Raimi was basically still a student when he made Evil Dead, and James Wan made this at what may be the height of his career with a number of huge, mainstream hits under his belt.
This is the post I made on Facebook after watching to movie last night. Loved it, btw. James Wans' two steps to making this movie: 1. Make a self aware celluloid love letter to movies you watched during your early years. 2. Watch said love letter fly completely over the heads of critics and internet reviewers alike.
My friends and I watched this together, and half the fun of it was trying to guess what was going on until the third act reveal. I think if you can roll with the tone, this movie is sooo much fun!
I liked it. It was like a Frankenstein’s monster of horror films stitched together. Elements of Argento, Rami, Craven, Nakata in terms of stylistic choices in the way it was filmed and shot. Basket Case with an element of who dunnit. Gloriously over the top and just a fun popcorn horror
Loved this. Wan and co knew exactly what they were doing. It’s a classic camp-horror blast. More please. I also love when Maddie’s mother is escaping, her hanging from the wall, arms dangling, looks like Gabriel LOL.
Malignant is my jam; an evolving Final Girl who is also the monster? Sign me up! A 90s direct to video creature feature, but with modern top notch acting and effects? Both a creepy paranormal dread film and an action set piece? Yes, please!
Just got back from this at the theater. I liked it, especially all the fighting at the end. All the backwards stuff was just great! It was like Basket Case rewritten as The Ring and Upgrade.
He definitely left it open for a sequel at the end. You hear the lightbulb start to surge with electricity and then it cuts to black before you see it. Great review as always, Emma.
"It's time to cut out the cancer" . That line, and the amazing opening credits sequence that followed it had me ready for whatever this film had to throw at me and I was along for the ride the entire time. This movie was a hell of a great time
Totally agree with you. Thanks for pointing out the non light flicker, I had not noticed that. As a huge Giallo fan this film made me smile all the way through. I actually really liked the soundtrack as the Goblin-esq parts made me very happy. Anyone who tips their hat to Argento in the way that James Wan has done, gets my vote every time.
This was like a mixture between early 2000s horror movies like the first 2 grudge movies, the ring, orphan, insidious and argento type movies. I loved it
as soon as i saw the opening scene I was thrilled! i almost didn't watch this movie because I expected a typical haunting or thriller...deliciously over the top - i was cheering with complete glee! on the malignant scale i fall under the "this was made specifically for me" so thank you for making this video! i'm a HUGE lover of movies like hereditary & the lodge but i also love campy things like malignant. I haven't laughed or cheered like that during a horror movie in so long - it was so refreshing!
This is turning out to be a great year for horror isn't it? I really appreciated your take on this Emma. The first half was like clues to a puzzle that made no sense. But then the story kicks in! And there were several moments that just sent this film into orbit. (Did you notice a heavily disguised Zoë Bell in the jail scene?) Yeah I caught the shards of Where Is My Mind in the score. So what do you think so far? The Night House or Malignant?
I have avoided spoilers completely all this time, and I FINALLY watched this last night. I'm obsessed, I think it was amazing. Glad I finally get to watch this now that I've seen it :D
Emma you are so spot on! The tone feels classic and nostalgic but the camera movement is very modern and cool! It bugs me a little that the super power element is unexplained, but it adds to the fun the movie is meant to offer.
I loved this breakdown, you really really understood it, and taught me some things in the process. I loved its crazy campy, early 2000s sci-fi movie channel nonsense. And I genuinely loved the twist.
I saw the film today and I liked it quite a bit. Although I have to say I didn't pick up on the Giallo influence, kinda embarrassing now that you have pointed it out. The gripe I had with it was I thought the dialogue could have been a little better. But the Giallo influence makes the overdramatic yet simplistic dialogue make a lot more sense. Love your videos by the way! ❤️
In terms of the very last moment, it felt very reminiscient of the ending of The Conjuring. That bit were the camera focuses on the music box and you really expect something to happen but it just doesn't. Honestly every time I watch it I still expect something to happen... Anyways I adore this film its so much fun.
I fully agree with you Emma It is so rare nowadays not to see a by-the-numbers overly serious horror movie, I just thoroughly enjoyed the WTF of it all!.
As you said, I was captivated the entire movie. Wan painted suck a great film with the balance between outrageous and genuine tension. The movie wasn't cheesy at all like most horror movies are chock full of lately. My mind was trying to guess how it would end the entire movie and when the hair splitting reveal happened I was pleasantly impressed. I suppose that's a gift of being able to let my imagination get immersed into any film I watch. No it doesn't belong in my movie collection. It was still a fun watch.
I love this movie. Very refreshing from all the standard boring yearly releases. Hopefully James Wan will make a sequel even more wild and extravagant.
My one 'plot hole' question is, the couch at the beginning had an impression as if Madison/May/Gabriel were sitting there but invisible, that was not explained fully - but in the end I did not care. I love this movie, I felt like it was made for my brain :)
@@snewz9089 I think I agree with this. It was a ‘misdirect’. This is what I would say is a capital “M” Movie. A lot of it was just about filmmaking and entertainment, not logic or having a super tight script. I was throughly entertained.
Thank you for covering this!! I didn’t realize the movie was getting a lot of hate but I loved it! You’re right, it definitely wasn’t perfect but it was very unique, even while drawing from many genres and it was incredible! I came nowhere close to guessing the twist and I was sucked in from the first moment!
It’s been a long time that a movie had my jaw on the floor with a smile happening all at once. And yes it’s absolutely self aware. The opening shot is a terrifying building on a cliff!!?? Because that’s where a medical facility for children should be, obviously.
I love your review ! I went to watch Malignant tonight, had some thoughts about it, and you just put words to my feelings ! Great movie, really enjoyed it, as well as your video !
I loved your complete explanation of Malignant. Which is one I commented on your non-spoiler review. You hit it on the head, as usual. I didn't pick up on The Pixies song, thank you for that point as I will be viewing this movie again. The tone of the movie was weird in a way, but the payoff for me was the creativity of Wan and his homage to other flicks. Thanks again and Cheers!
I had a blast watching this movie. We need more films like this. Parts of it are almost like a Takashi Mikke film, others like an Argento film.Your discussion on the integration of Giallo and Asian horror (with a sprinkling of 80s US horror) is spot on.
I was very confused if it was intentionally campy and cheesy because that's the vibe I was getting from the movie, if that's what the movie was going for then it did a great job. I laughed so much at this movie and I was interested and focused trying to figure it out, I don't see how people can it's boring, that it wasn't. But there was nothing scary going on and when see Gabriel full distorted body, i couldn't stop laughing, that was the funniest villain I've seen
Emma, I've been a subscriber of your channel since you had just a few thousand subs. I'm so happy to see you've been working SO hard and are almost at the 100k! I'm so happy to see this. Hope you read this and feel encouraged! I'm rooting for you!
I loved the movie, although it was really obvious and I was like "Yo, that's kinda voltdemort in the first book/movie with the second head in the back". I thought it was boring in the beginning, but the action made me laugh and that's not an easy task
Your explanation made perfect sense and I’m so glad you had fun with the movie. I feel the same and may have liked it even more. I was glued to the screen all the way through and would highly recommend it to anyone. By he way I’ve said it before that haunted house movies are my favorite so this was not what I expected but I loved it anyway.
Thanks for another great video, Emma! I did the same thing watching it with a VPN and I honestly can't wait to see it in theatres when it comes out here just to see everyone's reactions.
I really enjoyed your analysis of the film. I pretty much agree with everything you've said, right down to it not being perfect but still very enjoyable. Sometimes people don't understand that and I think in horror more than other genres we learn to take the good filmmaking with the bad. Also! Back when I wrote movie reviews I developed the habit of not watching a trailer until after the film. I appreciate that you do this too, and probably for similar reasons. Lastly, and unrelated to this video but I found you a few days ago while researching New French Extremity. I really appreciate your opinions and perspective, you got yourself a new subscriber.
LOVED the music and the cinematography! Cool kills and not a bad story, fun watch! The jail cell scene was awesome and the backwards shit was just insane! When the fuckin thing started talking at the end I got some serious Sam Raimi vibes. Now for Candyman… Awesome platform Emma, keeping it weird, That’s my jam 🤟🏽
Did anyone else get a Darkman vibe? The trench coat, the super strength. To me, this felt almost like that kind of super-antihero movie in places. Add electrical manipulation to the mix. I could totally see Madison becoming a weird sort of superhero in whatever hopefully comes next, running from the cops, fighting Gabriel for control, and doing good things in horrifying ways.
Talking about the electricity super powers: there's a flashback when they show that the doctors electroshocked Gabriel directly, I interpreted that moment as the moment where he got his powers. It is explained but not stated in words maybe.
Now that I've placed that soundtrack moment, on rewatch it totally sticks out. Also, I didn't catch it at first but at the finale, the *older patient" says "Gabriel?" And he answers "Yeeees?" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I really loved this movie. It’s not like anything I normally watch or enjoy but I still loved it. I also did think there were some genuinely creepy moments
I am a firm believer in everyone being entitled to their own opinions, but as you are my fav I would have been heartbroken if you had hated it so I'm so glad you liked it as well 😆 ❤❤❤❤❤ xxxxxx
Glad I found that video😊 I thought I was the only one liking this movie despite the many flaws. The sound effect was absolutely amazing in the first 15 mins by the way
Loved malignant - yes it paid homage to other movies of this type but was different enough to set it self apart - you are right about many references that get over looked - one in particular being the aspect that Gabriel is 'the devil' - the conception of Emma/Gabriel was violent, the reference to the mother giving the child up because of Gabriel's 'evil aspects' right down to the unnatural abilities that Gabriel possesses - these were mentioned in fleeting lines that were easy to miss - loved it and loved your review and it definitely set itself up for a sequel
I have watched this move a couple of times, I really liked the direction that James Wan took this. I like to catch the small things I may have missed the first time.
I picked up on the "Where is my mind" clue immediately, connected it to Fight Club, and right away realized that it was her the whole time. But I couldn't figure out how. So the whole movie, I was like "Well, it's clearly her doing all these murders, but.... how?" And then, with the reveal of Gabriel towards the end, when it's revealed that they were conjoined at the spine, my mind was just blown. Like, I would have never EVER seen that coming. Throughout the course of the film, I was trying to think of various theories that would lead to it being her the whole time, but for whatever reason, the theories wouldn't work, and I kept disproving them to myself. Never, in a million years, would I have ever come up with that conjoined twin twist! It was one of the biggest shocks I've ever experienced in a horror movie before. I dunno, maybe I'm a bit dim or thick, but I was just blown away. And not to mention, it's a fascinating concept to comprehend! I love movies that leave you still thinking about them even for ages after it's over. So, safe to say that I loved this movie, camp and all. I acknowledge its flaws, so you can list out all the reasons you hate it, and I'll probably agree with you. But in my opinion, a movie can be bad and great at the same time.
definitely agree with the point about the ending! what a cool subversion and rly rounds out the film and the whole metaphor for the main character dealing with her trauma
Great breakdown. This is one of those films you either get or you don't. Like you said, the opening shot clearly sets the campy tone and then runs with it. It has it's flaws like anything else, but at least it's different. I enjoyed the hell out of it.
I think this film is just perfect. I can ignore not-well-developed characters, but the story and tone are amazing!!! To me, why Gabriel has power is really clear and just doesn’t need any explanation - like any monsters or villain in any horror movies
I loved this movie! Really fun and I thought the tone added interest. When it showed the dark looming research building I expected to see Vincent Price!
at first I wasn't sure about this movie, but after a day contemplating. I feel that this movie is actually pretty awesome. it's definitely not scary, but at one point it just started getting so funny.
I think the part that confused me the most in trying to figure out who/what the "monster" is and what they can do before I pieced together what was going on, was when Gabriel kills the husband. I thought it was your typical paranormal/ghostly entity at first because of that scene where Gabriel is sitting down on the couch in the dark. When the husband turns on the light, Gabriel is gone but you can still see the imprint on the couch slowly rising. I thought, like a ghost, they're not visible to a human but they're still there, so I figured it was just standing up. NOPE. Apparently Gabriel is the Flash and left the couch so quick, their imprint was still there. It makes you question then, what was the point of that chase with the detective if Gabriel can just turn into the Flash and leave him in the dust lol.
This was very much Eyes of Laura Mars meets The Dark Half. The use of Where is my Mind by the Pixies reminded me of the use of Nights of White Satin by the Moody Blues in the movie Split Second. As a kid growing up with 80s and 90s horror movies, I really enjoyed this.
Sometimes critics, but probably even more so internet reviewers just focus on "plot holes", and not what the film is trying to accomplish and whether it achieved it or not. That said, critics can be wrong, everything is subject to personal tastes and expectations. I think the problem nowadays isn't so much film critics being good or bad. It's that they're all bundled together into one shapeless voice through stuff like Rotten Tomatoes. I'm gonna sound old for a moment, but when I became a huge fan of cinema in the nineties, I always tried to read from the same few film critics that I knew and tended to share opinions with. If one of them panned a film that looked promising to me, sometimes I could just tell "It's just them not liking that type of cinema, I'll probably enjoy the film myself." You just gotta understand that there's no such thing as objective film criticism and stop expecting that all critics should have the same opinion or tastes as yours.
this was such a weird cool horror movie - not perfect but all parts camp, humor, body horror just a breath of fresh air. I really thought I had it figured out like 30 minutes in and then it threw me for a loop - i love it unironically it kept me hooked lol
I think Gabriel got his powers from the electroshock he received at the Simion hospital. Recall that the doctor's aide said something about Gabriel sucking up the electricity.
Lovely content as always Emma! I’m looking forward to rewatching this movie. The first 2/3 didnt work well for me the first time, but I kind of loved the final act. Not sure how I did not pick up on the tone of the movie during the first two act. I just knew that I was instantly anoyed after the very first shot of the movie - the one you mention with the hospital by the water. I had no context of what was to come and was asuming I was watching and regular James Wong studio/franchise horror. And the sad thing is that that amount of cgi did not strike me as anything all that different from what I was expecting. I actualy said to myself : ”this looks like a videogame…”. And i kind of felt it all stayed on that level until the hilarious reveal in the final act. The story and stupid characters also read as bad rather than funny to me when I was in this frame of mind. The action fight scenes in the final act also looked like gamefootage - but at this point I was in on the joke and it read as more selfe aware and endearing. Hoping the first 2/3 of the movie will feel more like that on my second viewing when I’m more in sync with what I’m watching 😅 The more I think about this movie the more I’m enjoying it in my head. Went back and upped my score on Letterboxd the day after watching it.
I honestly fucking loved the music and had no idea it was a cover until now lol. It did feel different and almost dramatic but I loved it when watching the movie.
Thank you for doing this video!! I was one of thise with the dumb question about the phone call hahaahahahhaha xdd I was really wondering how gabriel call and talk to the detective in the police station lol but i glad i know now 🙌🏻 I really like this movie and I cant wait for another james wan movie cause im a big fan of the conjuring 1 and 2, the third one doesnt exist ok? 🤭 hahaahahaha Ps: I do notice the where is my mind song wile watching the movie but the way they played it was so annoying tho xd and im a fight club fan too, all thriller by david fincher actually… you should do something like you did with mike 😻🙏🏻🙌🏻 that was epic!
I’m just back from seeing it in the cinema and I love your review on it , I love giallo films so love that sort of feel to it . Im wondering how many people guessed the plot points before they were revealed
Well we do hear the HUM of the light at the very end so the implication is still there. And Madison says she knows Gabriel will come back but next time she'll be ready for him, so I think leaving it at a hum without an actual flicker is a good middle ground between sequel or no sequel to leave it at, especially seeing how divisive the film was always going to be.
I really liked it. It's bonkers (even if nothing espacially new) but there were one or two scenes in the the first third where I had to pull down my headphones, while not on a whole scary, it had it's moments, at least for me.
I watched your spoiler free review before going into the movie and I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be into a movie that blended so many different styles and subgeneres since I didn’t really know how that would translate but now that I’ve seen it I adored that about the film! EDIT: also reminded me of the game Beyond: Two Souls a little 👀
Loved this movie btw 💯✨✨ I’m obsessed. It managed to be stylish, campy and super scary if you see it alone at night. Trust me. Ask anyone that watched it alone. As a horror geek it rang tones of the Fly (Goldblum) and Basket Case for me. Absolutely awesome
It actually is a masterpiece, because everything about it that was dumb, silly or "poorly acted" was intentionally so, but everything was played totally straight. I read a clever comment that said, "It's a joke movie trying to convince you that it's serious, which is what makes it brilliant." I couldn't agree more. The very first scene is clearly absurd on purpose, but that went over a lot of people's heads. Anyway, love it or hate it, it's great that it's so committed to what it is. It's my favorite movie in a long time.
One underrated joke in the film IMO was when Madison's sister drives to the House on Haunted Hill hospital and when she pulls up it's broad daylight, and then she pulls her car into the driveway to park and it's the middle of the night, all so that she can walk into a spooky hospital to see some Session 9 chairs and Candyman graffiti.
that prison scene and the way the pieces came together before that moment was honestly just fucking epic to experience at a movie theater one of my most memorable cinema experiences for sure
The first 20 minutes definitely reminded me of The Grudge/Ju-On, the crawling, the hair, even the staircase was familiar
Sammme
You know what's the second best thing of being a horror fan? To come here after watching the films and hearing your takes on them. Thank you so much for covering such a wide range of horror and always being so enthusiastic about it ❤
Aw this is so sweet thank you!
in fact, if you look closely at the last few seconds of the film, focusing on the light bulb, you can hear a very faint electric sound, demonstrating that Gabriel's powers are still active, but very very weak... thanks for your review, I agree with points raised, great video as always!
Yes! I should have mentioned, the sound makes me think that he’s not weak enough to make the bulb flicker… to me it was showing he had lost his power
@@spookyastronauts Hmmm interesting, I hadn't thought of it that way, it also makes sense from your point of view, the symbolism of trying to turn on the light, but it ends up making a burning noise before it stops working. And that just shows how this movie grows and brings new discussions every time we analyze a little bit more, unlike most movies lately! it's always great when a movie surprises us, even though it's bad, cheesy and bonkers, but in a good way!
Man, the more I think about this film, the more I love it. Far from perfect, but it's a cool-ass horror film, yes, a COOL horror film. I was thoroughly entertained. In a time where we have tons of haunted-house films and flicks full of jump-scares, this felt refreshing as hell. Cheesy and goofy, but also disturbing and exciting at times. I do feel that this was indeed made for horror fans.
Yeeesss,!!
Yesss! and I think part of why it's so cool is that it's original. Like actually ORIGINAL, written for the screen, for THIS movie, not a remake, reboot, adaptation or spinoff, and I didn't realise how starved I was for that until I got this served up to me
I like it less and less. Too much cgi, no characters, no suspects, easily predictable point because of the trashy intro. Very empty film.
Just saw this last night at the theater. Honestly I had a fun time watching it even with all the flaws or trolling or whatever drugs James Wan was on when he made it lmao. It was creative to say the least. The chair throw absolutely cracked me up though it was just so unnecessary haha Gabriel was just being a dick.
Oh forgot, how cool would that be as a Halloween costume? You have long hair and could really pull that off Emma!!
😂😂😂
Maddison/Emily's victorian house is tiny on the outside but on the inside, it's the size of a resident evil mansion.
The thing Malignant reminded of the most was The Dark Half by Stephen King, with the idea of a parasitic twin pulling a "takeover".
THANK YOU! I've been wracking my brain trying to remember what movie this reminded me of that had the twin in the brain. That eye in the brain in The Dark Half, holy crap. Yes, it definitely reminded me of this movie, too.
I thought of the dark half as well
I thought of basket case from the 70s
amazing review! i kind of loved how people focused on just about anything and everything. like the sister parking on edge of the cliff, or the size of the house and police station, or the costumes of the ladies in the jail cell... kind of loved how obsessed twitter became with these "easter eggs" that were basically hollow chocolate treats! I honestly thought the trailer was giving me "The Entity" (1982) vibes and I was blown away just allowing the story to happen before me.
Yeah you could "hear" the electricity at the end though, I'm glad he didn't cheapen it..also I re-watched it and there's a part mid way through where Madison is coming around from hypnosis, and she literally says something along the lines of Gabrielle being a memory buried in the back of her head.. it makes so much more sense second time around, and this film is totally in the same universe as Fight Club.
I think the electricity was burning out though, with the light in the frame you expected a glitch and yes to fightclub!
@@spookyastronauts Yeah that makes more sense.. I like it even more now!
Giallo! How did I miss that? I totally felt the Asian horror influences, but completely missed the giallo. You're too good at this...
Malignant IMO is one of the most special horror films since the original Evil Dead. This is a FANTASTIC movie!
Really great movie, Jeff, no doubt. BUT let's not forget that Sam Raimi was basically still a student when he made Evil Dead, and James Wan made this at what may be the height of his career with a number of huge, mainstream hits under his belt.
Agreed! So fun!
This is the post I made on Facebook after watching to movie last night. Loved it, btw.
James Wans' two steps to making this movie:
1. Make a self aware celluloid love letter to movies you watched during your early years.
2. Watch said love letter fly completely over the heads of critics and internet reviewers alike.
I mean that begs the question..if a film flys over critics AND audiences heads is that on the director or the audience and critics?
My friends and I watched this together, and half the fun of it was trying to guess what was going on until the third act reveal. I think if you can roll with the tone, this movie is sooo much fun!
I liked it. It was like a Frankenstein’s monster of horror films stitched together. Elements of Argento, Rami, Craven, Nakata in terms of stylistic choices in the way it was filmed and shot.
Basket Case with an element of who dunnit. Gloriously over the top and just a fun popcorn horror
The light at the end doesn’t flicker, but you can hear the electricity spike through it right before it cuts to black.
I was just about to comment the same thing!
I think for me it sounds like he’s trying to make it flicker but he’s not strong enough. So for me it was showing he’s truely gone
It certainly felt like it was going to, beautifully executed.
So glad you did a spoiler view on this one! I love watching your spoiler-free ones but I really wanted to hear you go in on this one!
Thanks Claire!
I watched it at the theater then on HBOMAX and now going back to watch it at the theater again this weekend.
Yeah, I just loved it that much!
Loved this. Wan and co knew exactly what they were doing. It’s a classic camp-horror blast. More please. I also love when Maddie’s mother is escaping, her hanging from the wall, arms dangling, looks like Gabriel LOL.
Malignant is my jam; an evolving Final Girl who is also the monster? Sign me up! A 90s direct to video creature feature, but with modern top notch acting and effects? Both a creepy paranormal dread film and an action set piece? Yes, please!
Just got back from this at the theater. I liked it, especially all the fighting at the end. All the backwards stuff was just great! It was like Basket Case rewritten as The Ring and Upgrade.
He definitely left it open for a sequel at the end. You hear the lightbulb start to surge with electricity and then it cuts to black before you see it.
Great review as always, Emma.
"It's time to cut out the cancer" . That line, and the amazing opening credits sequence that followed it had me ready for whatever this film had to throw at me and I was along for the ride the entire time. This movie was a hell of a great time
Totally agree with you. Thanks for pointing out the non light flicker, I had not noticed that. As a huge Giallo fan this film made me smile all the way through. I actually really liked the soundtrack as the Goblin-esq parts made me very happy. Anyone who tips their hat to Argento in the way that James Wan has done, gets my vote every time.
This was like a mixture between early 2000s horror movies like the first 2 grudge movies, the ring, orphan, insidious and argento type movies. I loved it
as soon as i saw the opening scene I was thrilled! i almost didn't watch this movie because I expected a typical haunting or thriller...deliciously over the top - i was cheering with complete glee! on the malignant scale i fall under the "this was made specifically for me" so thank you for making this video! i'm a HUGE lover of movies like hereditary & the lodge but i also love campy things like malignant. I haven't laughed or cheered like that during a
horror movie in so long - it was so refreshing!
This is turning out to be a great year for horror isn't it? I really appreciated your take on this Emma. The first half was like clues to a puzzle that made no sense. But then the story kicks in! And there were several moments that just sent this film into orbit. (Did you notice a heavily disguised Zoë Bell in the jail scene?) Yeah I caught the shards of Where Is My Mind in the score. So what do you think so far? The Night House or Malignant?
I have avoided spoilers completely all this time, and I FINALLY watched this last night. I'm obsessed, I think it was amazing. Glad I finally get to watch this now that I've seen it :D
Emma, you nailed it! Giallo/Asian horror influence. I greatly enjoyed this movie as well as your video about it.
OF COURSE! “Where is my mind”!!! I knew the score sounded familiar!
Emma you are so spot on! The tone feels classic and nostalgic but the camera movement is very modern and cool! It bugs me a little that the super power element is unexplained, but it adds to the fun the movie is meant to offer.
Me and my boyfriend watched this on a whim at the drive in and it was wild. Definitely a really fun ridiculous movie.
I loved this breakdown, you really really understood it, and taught me some things in the process. I loved its crazy campy, early 2000s sci-fi movie channel nonsense. And I genuinely loved the twist.
You’re amazing, Emma. Totally agree with you :) I was laughing and glued to the screen
Agreed 😎
I saw the film today and I liked it quite a bit. Although I have to say I didn't pick up on the Giallo influence, kinda embarrassing now that you have pointed it out. The gripe I had with it was I thought the dialogue could have been a little better. But the Giallo influence makes the overdramatic yet simplistic dialogue make a lot more sense. Love your videos by the way! ❤️
I really enjoyed it and I should have realized the tie in between where is My mind because I immediately told Adam my husband, hey that's a pixie song
In terms of the very last moment, it felt very reminiscient of the ending of The Conjuring. That bit were the camera focuses on the music box and you really expect something to happen but it just doesn't. Honestly every time I watch it I still expect something to happen... Anyways I adore this film its so much fun.
I fully agree with you Emma
It is so rare nowadays not to see a by-the-numbers overly serious horror movie, I just thoroughly enjoyed the WTF of it all!.
As you said, I was captivated the entire movie. Wan painted suck a great film with the balance between outrageous and genuine tension. The movie wasn't cheesy at all like most horror movies are chock full of lately. My mind was trying to guess how it would end the entire movie and when the hair splitting reveal happened I was pleasantly impressed. I suppose that's a gift of being able to let my imagination get immersed into any film I watch. No it doesn't belong in my movie collection. It was still a fun watch.
I love this movie. Very refreshing from all the standard boring yearly releases.
Hopefully James Wan will make a sequel even more wild and extravagant.
My one 'plot hole' question is, the couch at the beginning had an impression as if Madison/May/Gabriel were sitting there but invisible, that was not explained fully - but in the end I did not care. I love this movie, I felt like it was made for my brain :)
we do see that gabriel has ability to crawl around quickly he probably just crawled and showed up behind madison's boyfriend
No way to rationally explain it..it was put there to lead you to believe it was supernatural..kind of cheap..to each there own .convoluted mess
That was the only plot hole to you in this Swiss cheese of a film ? Lmao
@@AntonioGee no, but it was the only one I had a question about.
@@snewz9089 I think I agree with this. It was a ‘misdirect’. This is what I would say is a capital “M” Movie. A lot of it was just about filmmaking and entertainment, not logic or having a super tight script. I was throughly entertained.
Thank you for covering this!! I didn’t realize the movie was getting a lot of hate but I loved it! You’re right, it definitely wasn’t perfect but it was very unique, even while drawing from many genres and it was incredible! I came nowhere close to guessing the twist and I was sucked in from the first moment!
It’s been a long time that a movie had my jaw on the floor with a smile happening all at once. And yes it’s absolutely self aware. The opening shot is a terrifying building on a cliff!!?? Because that’s where a medical facility for children should be, obviously.
I love your review ! I went to watch Malignant tonight, had some thoughts about it, and you just put words to my feelings ! Great movie, really enjoyed it, as well as your video !
I loved your complete explanation of Malignant. Which is one I commented on your non-spoiler review. You hit it on the head, as usual. I didn't pick up on The Pixies song, thank you for that point as I will be viewing this movie again. The tone of the movie was weird in a way, but the payoff for me was the creativity of Wan and his homage to other flicks. Thanks again and Cheers!
I really enjoyed the movie and am glad it all came together at the end!!
LOL, I'm cracking up! Your explanation of the tone was probably my fave part of this video
I had a blast watching this movie. We need more films like this. Parts of it are almost like a Takashi Mikke film, others like an Argento film.Your discussion on the integration of Giallo and Asian horror (with a sprinkling of 80s US horror) is spot on.
I was very confused if it was intentionally campy and cheesy because that's the vibe I was getting from the movie, if that's what the movie was going for then it did a great job.
I laughed so much at this movie and I was interested and focused trying to figure it out, I don't see how people can it's boring, that it wasn't. But there was nothing scary going on and when see Gabriel full distorted body, i couldn't stop laughing, that was the funniest villain I've seen
Emma, I've been a subscriber of your channel since you had just a few thousand subs. I'm so happy to see you've been working SO hard and are almost at the 100k! I'm so happy to see this. Hope you read this and feel encouraged! I'm rooting for you!
Thank you so much
I loved the movie, although it was really obvious and I was like "Yo, that's kinda voltdemort in the first book/movie with the second head in the back". I thought it was boring in the beginning, but the action made me laugh and that's not an easy task
Your explanation made perfect sense and I’m so glad you had fun with the movie. I feel the same and may have liked it even more. I was glued to the screen all the way through and would highly recommend it to anyone. By he way I’ve said it before that haunted house movies are my favorite so this was not what I expected but I loved it anyway.
Really enjoyed your analysis. I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks, Emma.
Thanks for another great video, Emma! I did the same thing watching it with a VPN and I honestly can't wait to see it in theatres when it comes out here just to see everyone's reactions.
I really enjoyed your analysis of the film. I pretty much agree with everything you've said, right down to it not being perfect but still very enjoyable. Sometimes people don't understand that and I think in horror more than other genres we learn to take the good filmmaking with the bad.
Also! Back when I wrote movie reviews I developed the habit of not watching a trailer until after the film. I appreciate that you do this too, and probably for similar reasons.
Lastly, and unrelated to this video but I found you a few days ago while researching New French Extremity. I really appreciate your opinions and perspective, you got yourself a new subscriber.
LOVED the music and the cinematography! Cool kills and not a bad story, fun watch! The jail cell scene was awesome and the backwards shit was just insane! When the fuckin thing started talking at the end I got some serious Sam Raimi vibes. Now for Candyman…
Awesome platform Emma, keeping it weird, That’s my jam 🤟🏽
Did anyone else get a Darkman vibe? The trench coat, the super strength. To me, this felt almost like that kind of super-antihero movie in places. Add electrical manipulation to the mix. I could totally see Madison becoming a weird sort of superhero in whatever hopefully comes next, running from the cops, fighting Gabriel for control, and doing good things in horrifying ways.
Oh god thank you! That score choice was killing me. It all makes sense now.
Great dive, love the energy!
Movies I thought of while watching Malignant: Happy Birthday to Me, Basket Case, Fight Club, Upgrade...
I really enjoyed this movie it was crazy and over the top I loved it
Talking about the electricity super powers: there's a flashback when they show that the doctors electroshocked Gabriel directly, I interpreted that moment as the moment where he got his powers.
It is explained but not stated in words maybe.
Now that I've placed that soundtrack moment, on rewatch it totally sticks out. Also, I didn't catch it at first but at the finale, the *older patient" says "Gabriel?" And he answers "Yeeees?"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I really loved this movie. It’s not like anything I normally watch or enjoy but I still loved it. I also did think there were some genuinely creepy moments
If you love Scream, Insidious, Saw, The Thing, The RIng, and Kung Fu Panda all in one, you will love this film!
I completely agree with this. I definitely saw several different references and I loved the mixture in both tone and stories.
@@pookeywan Wish I could say the same, I literally laughed out loud at this movie while I was watching it. Mostly the third act though.
I am a firm believer in everyone being entitled to their own opinions, but as you are my fav I would have been heartbroken if you had hated it so I'm so glad you liked it as well 😆 ❤❤❤❤❤ xxxxxx
😂❤️
Glad I found that video😊
I thought I was the only one liking this movie despite the many flaws. The sound effect was absolutely amazing in the first 15 mins by the way
Loved malignant - yes it paid homage to other movies of this type but was different enough to set it self apart - you are right about many references that get over looked - one in particular being the aspect that Gabriel is 'the devil' - the conception of Emma/Gabriel was violent, the reference to the mother giving the child up because of Gabriel's 'evil aspects' right down to the unnatural abilities that Gabriel possesses - these were mentioned in fleeting lines that were easy to miss - loved it and loved your review and it definitely set itself up for a sequel
I have watched this move a couple of times, I really liked the direction that James Wan took this. I like to catch the small things I may have missed the first time.
Emma! The music/score was GREAT! lol How can you like the campy tones of the film and not appreciate the heavy synths that accompany it?! lol
I picked up on the "Where is my mind" clue immediately, connected it to Fight Club, and right away realized that it was her the whole time. But I couldn't figure out how. So the whole movie, I was like "Well, it's clearly her doing all these murders, but.... how?" And then, with the reveal of Gabriel towards the end, when it's revealed that they were conjoined at the spine, my mind was just blown. Like, I would have never EVER seen that coming. Throughout the course of the film, I was trying to think of various theories that would lead to it being her the whole time, but for whatever reason, the theories wouldn't work, and I kept disproving them to myself. Never, in a million years, would I have ever come up with that conjoined twin twist! It was one of the biggest shocks I've ever experienced in a horror movie before. I dunno, maybe I'm a bit dim or thick, but I was just blown away. And not to mention, it's a fascinating concept to comprehend! I love movies that leave you still thinking about them even for ages after it's over. So, safe to say that I loved this movie, camp and all. I acknowledge its flaws, so you can list out all the reasons you hate it, and I'll probably agree with you. But in my opinion, a movie can be bad and great at the same time.
definitely agree with the point about the ending! what a cool subversion and rly rounds out the film and the whole metaphor for the main character dealing with her trauma
Great breakdown. This is one of those films you either get or you don't. Like you said, the opening shot clearly sets the campy tone and then runs with it. It has it's flaws like anything else, but at least it's different. I enjoyed the hell out of it.
I think this film is just perfect. I can ignore not-well-developed characters, but the story and tone are amazing!!! To me, why Gabriel has power is really clear and just doesn’t need any explanation - like any monsters or villain in any horror movies
This movie, is very self aware in my opinion and is campy in a very good way lol!
I loved this movie! Really fun and I thought the tone added interest. When it showed the dark looming research building I expected to see Vincent Price!
at first I wasn't sure about this movie, but after a day contemplating. I feel that this movie is actually pretty awesome. it's definitely not scary, but at one point it just started getting so funny.
Also a bit of the vagueness is on purpose along with the ending sets it up great for a sequal and James likes sequal
I think the part that confused me the most in trying to figure out who/what the "monster" is and what they can do before I pieced together what was going on, was when Gabriel kills the husband. I thought it was your typical paranormal/ghostly entity at first because of that scene where Gabriel is sitting down on the couch in the dark. When the husband turns on the light, Gabriel is gone but you can still see the imprint on the couch slowly rising. I thought, like a ghost, they're not visible to a human but they're still there, so I figured it was just standing up. NOPE. Apparently Gabriel is the Flash and left the couch so quick, their imprint was still there. It makes you question then, what was the point of that chase with the detective if Gabriel can just turn into the Flash and leave him in the dust lol.
This was very much Eyes of Laura Mars meets The Dark Half. The use of Where is my Mind by the Pixies reminded me of the use of Nights of White Satin by the Moody Blues in the movie Split Second. As a kid growing up with 80s and 90s horror movies, I really enjoyed this.
I was so ready for the light to flicker at the end! I couldnt breathe my sigh of relief until credits rolled.
Sometimes critics, but probably even more so internet reviewers just focus on "plot holes", and not what the film is trying to accomplish and whether it achieved it or not. That said, critics can be wrong, everything is subject to personal tastes and expectations. I think the problem nowadays isn't so much film critics being good or bad. It's that they're all bundled together into one shapeless voice through stuff like Rotten Tomatoes.
I'm gonna sound old for a moment, but when I became a huge fan of cinema in the nineties, I always tried to read from the same few film critics that I knew and tended to share opinions with. If one of them panned a film that looked promising to me, sometimes I could just tell "It's just them not liking that type of cinema, I'll probably enjoy the film myself." You just gotta understand that there's no such thing as objective film criticism and stop expecting that all critics should have the same opinion or tastes as yours.
I was definitely not bored with this one! I read prior to watching that this was supposed to be the most gory one yet and it was just so so.
this was such a weird cool horror movie - not perfect but all parts camp, humor, body horror just a breath of fresh air. I really thought I had it figured out like 30 minutes in and then it threw me for a loop - i love it unironically it kept me hooked lol
I think Gabriel got his powers from the electroshock he received at the Simion hospital. Recall that the doctor's aide said something about Gabriel sucking up the electricity.
Lovely content as always Emma!
I’m looking forward to rewatching this movie. The first 2/3 didnt work well for me the first time, but I kind of loved the final act.
Not sure how I did not pick up on the tone of the movie during the first two act. I just knew that I was instantly anoyed after the very first shot of the movie - the one you mention with the hospital by the water. I had no context of what was to come and was asuming I was watching and regular James Wong studio/franchise horror. And the sad thing is that that amount of cgi did not strike me as anything all that different from what I was expecting. I actualy said to myself : ”this looks like a videogame…”. And i kind of felt it all stayed on that level until the hilarious reveal in the final act. The story and stupid characters also read as bad rather than funny to me when I was in this frame of mind.
The action fight scenes in the final act also looked like gamefootage - but at this point I was in on the joke and it read as more selfe aware and endearing. Hoping the first 2/3 of the movie will feel more like that on my second viewing when I’m more in sync with what I’m watching 😅
The more I think about this movie the more I’m enjoying it in my head. Went back and upped my score on Letterboxd the day after watching it.
I read that Wan wanted a chance to use as much wild horror effects as possible and that’s why he made this film 😂
I agree it's total camp"! You either love it or hate it . Splinter is a great one, check that one out Emma.🎭🍿🌠💜🌠💜🌠💜🌠💜🌠💜🌠💜🌠
Afortunadamente note que era un cover de the Pixies y realmente aumento lo mucho que disfrute está película
I honestly fucking loved the music and had no idea it was a cover until now lol. It did feel different and almost dramatic but I loved it when watching the movie.
Thank you for doing this video!! I was one of thise with the dumb question about the phone call hahaahahahhaha xdd I was really wondering how gabriel call and talk to the detective in the police station lol but i glad i know now 🙌🏻 I really like this movie and I cant wait for another james wan movie cause im a big fan of the conjuring 1 and 2, the third one doesnt exist ok? 🤭 hahaahahaha
Ps: I do notice the where is my mind song wile watching the movie but the way they played it was so annoying tho xd and im a fight club fan too, all thriller by david fincher actually… you should do something like you did with mike 😻🙏🏻🙌🏻 that was epic!
I’m just back from seeing it in the cinema and I love your review on it , I love giallo films so love that sort of feel to it . Im wondering how many people guessed the plot points before they were revealed
Well we do hear the HUM of the light at the very end so the implication is still there. And Madison says she knows Gabriel will come back but next time she'll be ready for him, so I think leaving it at a hum without an actual flicker is a good middle ground between sequel or no sequel to leave it at, especially seeing how divisive the film was always going to be.
I really liked it. It's bonkers (even if nothing espacially new) but there were one or two scenes in the the first third where I had to pull down my headphones, while not on a whole scary, it had it's moments, at least for me.
I watched your spoiler free review before going into the movie and I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be into a movie that blended so many different styles and subgeneres since I didn’t really know how that would translate but now that I’ve seen it I adored that about the film!
EDIT: also reminded me of the game Beyond: Two Souls a little 👀
Something i keep thinking about is that long chase scene underground. I think its a callback to The Crow chase scene.
Right. How can someone say this movie was boring?? I was engaged the entire time
Loved this movie btw 💯✨✨ I’m obsessed. It managed to be stylish, campy and super scary if you see it alone at night. Trust me. Ask anyone that watched it alone. As a horror geek it rang tones of the Fly (Goldblum) and Basket Case for me. Absolutely awesome
It actually is a masterpiece, because everything about it that was dumb, silly or "poorly acted" was intentionally so, but everything was played totally straight. I read a clever comment that said, "It's a joke movie trying to convince you that it's serious, which is what makes it brilliant." I couldn't agree more. The very first scene is clearly absurd on purpose, but that went over a lot of people's heads. Anyway, love it or hate it, it's great that it's so committed to what it is. It's my favorite movie in a long time.
I was very impressed with the first scene and when the sister returns, I said, it's so spooky, but I kinda want to live there
I am so glad you made the connection to Asian horror! I found it so similar (in a good way!) to the Thai film 'Alone'!
Yes!!!!