Welcome one and all to my review of the Netflix horror film, Malevolent. As always if you have any comments about this or any other post leave a comment in the section below or follow me on Twitter or Instagram. If you are struggling to figure out what to watch this Halloween I have a post on 5 films you should be watching here and if horror isn't your thing check out my post on Pop In A Box, a subscription box for Funko Pops.
Netflix has a wealth of horror films to more than fulfil any and all of your horror needs this October and I have review my fair share in the past including Emelie and Hungerford and I must admit I knew very little about the most recent release, Malevolent.
Malevolent follows the story of Angela and Jackson, a brother and sister living in Glasgow after tragedy has befallen their family. The brother and sister are earning money by using Angela's gift to bring closure to mourning families, only they're using smoke and mirrors to exploit these families. They are called to a job to help a mother cleanse her house of the spirits of three girls who were brutally murdered. What happens next is a terrifying twist and turn story where the true nature of the haunting comes to light.
Written by Ben Ketai and Eva Konstantopoulos and directed by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson, Malevolent stars the brilliant Florence Pugh (Lady Macbeth, The Falling) and Ben Lloyd - Hughes (Divergent, Me Before You) as the brother sister duo. Both Pugh and Hughes are tremendous in their roles and their strained relationship is the focal point of the film. Celia Imrie has a great turn as Mrs Green as the unbalanced owner of the haunted home that may know more.
I love that Malevolent is placed in the early 1980's, no actual year is mentioned, as it allows for a lot of the modern tropes of horror such as cell phones and placing cameras everywhere in the house to be removed and what we are left with is a suspenseful film that uses what the audience can see to great effect. There is a slow build to the 3rd act which is great as it builds a story without using too much detail that could have slowed the film right down.
The story itself is well written and really avoids jump scares and shadows in favour or a story of loss and grief and what it can do to a person and how they can or cannot cope with it. Angela is distant and mysterious, sometimes a little cold, which is accurate for her character but, she shows a real strength in the 3rd act as she has to deal with the unfolding horror in front of her. Jackson is a hustler and a liar but, as the film continues on the audience realise that he is simply coping with the grief of losing his parents in a different and destructive way. The final act really ramps up the gore and horror elements of the story before you realise what is happening but, has a satisfying conclusion to a great story.
Overall Malevolent is a great British horror movie that is well worth a watch this Halloween.
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