Whatever Happened to Tommy Shelby?

Malignant (2021)

Retro movie poster by Laz Marquez

After her abusive husband is killed and she miscarries her latest pregnancy as the result of a brutal home invasion, Madison Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis) begins to have horrific visions of subsequent murders committed by the intruder.

Once the police are convinced there is some connection between Madison and the attacker, an investigation begins that starts to unravel the troubled woman's concept of reality.

Following his mega-success with Aquaman, horrormeister James Wan returned to the genre he is most closely associated with, bringing a touch of superpowered magic to Malignant that elevates this bonkers flick above the norm. 

Most definitely a film best appreciated with as little foreknowledge as possible, writer-director Wan mixes the police procedural elements from Saw with an '80s grungy monster movie vibe (one particular franchise comes to mind, but I won't say any more).

The resulting violent, action-packed, ride wouldn't feel that out of place as a villainous origin story in a Venom comic book or film.

While Annabelle Wallis (Grace Shelby from Peaky Blinders) is the heart of this movie, major kudos to the well-written coterie of supporting characters, particularly Madison's sister Sydney (Maddie Hasson), and the main police detectives, Kekoa Shaw (George Young) and Regina Moss (Michole Briana White).

I tend to find that when it comes horror films, the less I write about them in a review the more I've enjoyed them because there's less to take the piss out of and I'm keen not to spoil any genuine surprises for the reader. 

All I'll say is: Malignant is gloriously over-the-top and bonkers, gruesome, insane, and yet truly inspired and rather clever.

I really appreciated the fact that the script was full of crafty, well-earned, misdirects and red herrings, sending the plot in directions I certainly didn't expect (because I'd managed to avoid all spoilers from its cinematic release in 2021).

Malignant is a must-see for fans of the more pulpy end of the well-made horror movie spectrum.