New Line Cinema, Starlight Media Inc., My Entertainment Inc. and Atomic Monster Productions’ Malignant (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; A) is a supernatural horror film. Madison Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis) is a young lady who gets visions of the murders of strangers. She soon realises that these waking dreams are, in fact, horrifying realities. She then decides to track down the potential victims and save their lives.
James Wan, Ingrid Bisu and Akela Cooper have written a story that is hardly interesting. The novelty factor in the story is almost completely missing. The screenplay, penned by Akela Cooper, is hardly any better than the story. There are some thrilling moments, no doubt, but they are simply not enough to scare the viewers or evoke shrieks in the cinema halls. The audiences, therefore, passively watch the drama unfolding on the screen, without really feeling involved.
Annabelle Wallis performs quite well as Madison Mitchell. Maddie Hasson (as Sydney Lake) is alright. George Young (as detective Kekoa Shaw) is average. Michole Briana White is ordinary as detective Regina Moss. Jacqueline McKenzie (as Dr. Florence Weaver) lends reasonable support. Mckenna Grace (as young Madison Mitchell), Jake Abel (as Derek Mitchell), Susanna Thompson (as Jeanne), Ingrid Bisu (as Winnie), Christian Clemenson (as Dr. Victor Fields), Zoë Bell (as Scorpion), Marina Mazepa (as Gabriel), Jean Louisa Kelly (as Jane Doe), Amir AboulEla (as Dr. Gregory), Mercedes Colon (as Mendez) and the others provide routine support.
James Wan’s direction is ordinary. Joseph Bishara’s background music is not as impactful as it should have been in a supernatural thriller. Michael Burgess’ cinematography is fairly nice. Production designing (by Desma Murphy) is okay. Kirk M. Morri’s editing should’ve been sharper. Dubbing is fair.
On the whole, Malignant is too ordinary to score at the box-office, more so in these tough times when audience attendance in cinemas is very low due to cinemas operating at half capacity, restrictions on show timings, fear of the third wave of Coronavirus, cinemas in some states (Maharashtra, Assam and Kerala) still shut, etc. Flop.
Released on 10-9-’21 all over (except in Maharashtra, Assam and Kerala). Publicity & opening: dull. …..The original English version has also been released simultaneously.