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Casual awareness of the horror community on social media is enough to let you know that James Wan‘s Malignant (2021) is divisive. Wan’s contribution to the current horror scene cannot be understated – Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring Universe… Wan has had his fingers on the pulse of modern horror, and his name is usually a draw when attached to a movie.

So then, what is the case with Malignant? Is it a misunderstood effort from an artist, or is it a studio film that misses the mark? Based on what I saw, the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

James Wan's 2021 Movie Malignant poster
A very eye-catching poster.

Malignant, directed by James Wan, was written by Akela Cooper and adapted from Wan, Cooper, and Ingrid Bisu. The film stars Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hanson, George Young, and Michole Briana White. Warner Bros. Pictures distribute it.

What Worked With Malignant

The Giallo-vibe of Malignant is fairly strong. A gloved killer of dubious supernatural ability bumping off people with a unique weapon feels straight out of the 1970s, and sometimes this is a detriment to the film overall. That being said, it does carry that Giallo-fun. The film involves a woman who, after several miscarriages, finds herself witnessing the crimes of a spindly, disturbing figure who may have a deeper connection to her than she initially realizes.

Imagine Frank Henelotter’s Basket Case (1982) meets Lucio Fulci’s The Psychic (1977), and you can probably guess where the film goes. The problem is, the film isn’t as fun as those – it evokes them, but that is about it.

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Michael Burgess’ cinematography is generally effective. The film looks good for the most part, especially when it plays with color. There are, of course, sections where the set design or scene concept can’t be saved by cinematography. The holding-cell that time forgot in the last 30 minutes of the film and the obnoxiously large abandoned hospital are great examples of such strange impulses that can’t be saved by cinematography.

If it weren’t for shots of the Space Needle, you could tell someone this story is set in DC’s Gotham City, and it would make a lot of sense and actually contextualize some of the oddness of the film.

still from James Wan's 2021 movie Malignant
Strange dull color grading and an overly fake-looking holding cell provide unintentional comedy.

What Didn’t Work With Malignant

Malignant is a film that makes a lot of strange choices and at times feels anachronistic. Its logic is in 1970s Giallo, but rather subverting or developing those ideas for modern filmgoers, and it plays this material straight to the point where it becomes ridiculous. As I watched, I kept reminding myself of better films from 1970s Italy. It didn’t help that some of the performances were laughably wooden, and some of the lines were cringingly on the nose.

My greatest frustration with Malignant was how predictable it all was. The major “twist” of the film becomes obvious rather early, and instead of doing anything to really mix things up – the film plays the twist as close to the trope as possible. Compounding this problem is the decision to instead engage in tonally dissonant action scenes. It just annoys rather than provides a genuine thrill. Fans of the film have praised the final 30 minutes or so. While the sequence is fun – it is also incredibly goofy. I found myself laughing far too hard at the ridiculousness of it all.

Another concern, Joseph Bishara’s score feels off a number of times. Again, there is a dissonance between what I expect to be feeling based on what I am seeing, and the score of the film. The score doesn’t really feel horrific and the musical stings seem better suited to a superhero film than a body-horror story.

Still from James Wan's 2021 movie Malignant
Malignant does rely heavily on CGI compositing, which lacks the low-tech charm of a 1970s Giallo.

Bottom Line

Malignant is a labor of love from a horror influencer with no oversight. For every amazing choice made, there are several strange, nonsensical ones. The film is a curious modern Giallo that isn’t self-aware enough to sell the farce and rides tropes so heavily that the film becomes predictable and provides for few genuine shocks. There is a lot to like, still, despite these issues. It’s just a so-bad-its-good type of movie. 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

You can see Malignant in theaters or stream in on HBO Max.

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Agree or disagree with the review? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to know what you think.

David Davis is a writer, cartoonist, and educator in Southern California with an M.A. in literature and writing studies.

Movies n TV

Bloody Axe Wound: A Slasher Flick with Daddy Issues and a Side of Feminism

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Alright, you sick puppies, gather ’round for a tale of family bonding, teenage angst, and good old-fashioned murder. “Bloody Axe Wound” is here to tickle your funny bone and possibly remove a few other bones while it’s at it.

Woman with bikini covered in blood from Bloody Axe Wound

The Gist: Serial Killing as a Family Business

Picture this: a video store that’s actually a front for some seriously messed up snuff films. The twist? The owner’s a serial killer who’s been slicing and dicing teens faster than you can say “late fees.” But wait, there’s more! His daughter, Abby Blake Cut (yeah, that’s her name, deal with it), wants in on the family business. Talk about bring-your-daughter-to-work day gone horribly wrong!

“Bloody Axe Wound” is like “90210” decided to do a crossover with “Halloween” – Jim Phoenix, HauntedMTL

Daddy’s Little Monster

So, Daddy Dearest isn’t too keen on his baby girl following in his bloody footsteps. I mean, come on, it’s 2024 – girls can be anything they want, even psychopathic murderers! But our guy’s stuck in the past, probably still thinks women belong in the kitchen (chopping vegetables, not people).

Jennifer’s Body [Blu-ray]
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  • Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons (Actors)
  • Karyn Kusama (Director) – Diablo Cody (Writer) – Mason Novick (Producer)

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A Feminist Slasher? You Bet Your Ass!

Abby’s not just fighting for her right to party (and by party, I mean brutally murder people). She’s breaking down barriers in the male-dominated field of serial killing. Move over, Jason and Freddy – there’s a new blade in town (no, not Mahershala Ali…only one real Blade…), and she’s got a point to prove (several points, actually, all of them sharp).

Horror Tropes Galore

This flick’s got more tropes than a teenager’s got hormones:

  • Awkward sexual exploration? Check.
  • That one friend who’s way too old to be hanging with high schoolers? You betcha.
  • A cursed town where everyone’s oblivious to the killer in their midst? Oh, honey, it’s all here.

It’s like “90210” decided to do a crossover with “Halloween,” and somehow it works!

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Ginger Snaps (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
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  • John Fawcett (Director) – Steven Hoban (Producer)

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The Verdict: 4.5 out of 5 Bloody Thumbs Up

Look, I’m not saying “Bloody Axe Wound” is gonna win any Oscars (unless they finally add that “Best Dismemberment” category I’ve been lobbying for). But hot damn, it’s a fun ride. It’s got laughs, it’s got gore, it’s got a weirdly heartwarming father-daughter story if you squint hard enough. This one is a rewatchable movie and probably a cult classic for many of us.

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So, grab your popcorn, leave your sensitivity at the door, and get ready for a movie that’ll make you laugh, cringe, and possibly reconsider your family dynamics. Just remember: the family that slays together, stays together!

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

P.S. Don’t bring the kids. Unless you want them to have a very awkward conversation with their school counselor.

P.P.S. Sorry, once again, for killing your name in our podcast…

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Dexter Original Sin F is for Fuck-Up dives deeper into the horrors of a beloved character

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Episode five of Original Sin was surprisingly light. At least, as light as a show can be when it involves murder, teenage drug use, and the anniversary of the death of a beloved parent.

The story

We begin this episode right where the last one left off. Mad Dog, Dexter’s latest victim, is hit by a car and killed. This leaves Dexter with the unpleasant chore of cleaning up a crime scene but not being able to actually kill someone.

Patrick Gibson in Dexter Original Sin.

Meanwhile, Harry is getting ready for the trial of Levi Reed. This trial seems like it will be a slam dunk, except for one terrible surprise. Turns out Harry messed up and hid what probably wouldn’t have been evidence strong enough to dismiss the case until he hid it.

What worked

One of the reasons why Dexter is so popular is that it’s funny. While it is a show that deals with very heavy subject matter, it’s also managed to be funny most of the time.

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This episode is funny. It starts with Dex cursing over and over while he frantically and meticulously cleans up his crime scene, then hiding in a corner with a bag of incriminating trash. We later see him eat way too many pot brownies and get high as a kite, then eat two pizzas while laughing at I Love Lucy with Deb.

These are funny scenes that fit into the heaviness of the show. It doesn’t feel like emotional whiplash when we go from the kids getting high to Harry having a mental breakdown because that makes sense. Rather than forcing humor where it doesn’t belong, the writers made this comedy make sense.

I also loved that we’re seeing Dexter become who he will be. He’s terrified of losing control. He’s always learning how to kill more efficiently. And for someone who claims to not have regular human emotions, he already seems to understand a lot more about how the people around him are likely to act.

At least, he gets how Harry’s going to respond.

I like that he’s not just a teen version of the same character. I like that we’re seeing how this young mentally ill man changed into the adult mentally ill man we all know and love.

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Finally, we are really seeing the depths of how bad of a cop, and frankly a person, Harry is. Because Harry isn’t a good person.

Patrick Dempsey, Reno Wilson and James Martinez in Dexter Original Sin.

He withheld evidence in a murder trial because he just didn’t consider it valid.

He ignored his kids, especially Deb when they needed him.

He’s having an affair with his CI, which is not only bad because he’s a married man, but because he’s taking advantage of a huge power imbalance between the two of them.

And finally, when he singlehandedly lost a murder trial, he got drunk and almost shot a man. When he couldn’t do it himself, he let Dexter off the leash.

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Harry is a bad person. And that’s kind of awesome. That’s the sort of villain origin story that I love to see. He is a more interesting character because of this. And Dexter is more understandable because of what we understand about the man who raised him.

What didn’t work

It took me a while to look over this episode of Dexter Original Sin and find something to complain about. And honestly, there’s one part of this season that’s been bothering me.

I don’t love that Harry is spending so much time with little Dexter. It just doesn’t make sense to me. At least, not with the story of the original show.

Especially in the first season, it’s clear that Dexter doesn’t remember anything before the death of his mother. That makes sense, as he was very very small. But this little Dexter feels like he would have been old enough to remember some of this.

But, you might say, he was traumatized. He watched his mother be brutally slaughtered and was left for days in a shipping crate with his mother’s body. And yeah, it does make sense that he would forget a lot.

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But would he never have the slightest inkling that he was now being raised by the man who suddenly showed up in his life, babysat him, and tucked him lovingly into bed?

Overall, this was a great episode. It was funny, touching, and moved along several storylines. I’m excited to see what comes next. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

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Street Trash: A Mind-Melting Masterpiece of Mayhem

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Holy crow, folks! Buckle up, because we’re about to dive headfirst into the gloriously gooey world of “Street Trash” – the 2024 remake that’ll make you question your life choices and possibly your sanity. Trust me, this ain’t your grandma’s horror flick (unless your grandma’s into melting hobos and alien smurfs, in which case, I probably swiped right on that one and you’re out of milk.)

Street Trash still courtesy of Lightbulb Films

What’s the Deal with Street Trash?

Picture this: a bunch of homeless misfits discover a sinister plot to wipe out every street dweller in the city. Cue the chaos, the melting, and enough WTF moments to make your brain leak out of your ears. It’s like if “They Live” and Cheech’s “Born in East LA” had a love child, and that child was raised by a family of radioactive dumpsters.

Yes, even the damn credits are worth watching. Marvel, eat your heart out. – Jim Phoenix, HauntedMTL

From the Twisted Mind Behind Fried Barry

Remember “Fried Barry”? That mind-bending trip from 2020 that left you questioning reality? Well, the same madman is back, and he’s cranked the insanity up to eleven. If you thought “Fried Barry” was a wild ride, “Street Trash” is like strapping yourself to a rocket made of hallucinogens and blasting off into a dimension of pure, unadulterated chaos.

Fried Barry [Blu-ray]
  • Fried Barry [Blu-ray]
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Body Horror That’ll Make You Hurl (In a Good Way)

Let’s talk gore, baby! This flick kicks off with some of the most stomach-churning body horror I’ve seen in years. We’re talking face-melting, blood-spewing, organs-on-the-outside kind of nastiness. It’s so gross, it loops back around to beautiful. You’ll be disgusted, amazed, and possibly a little turned on (no judgment here, folks).

Not Just Gore – There’s Heart (and Other Organs) Too

But wait, there’s more! “Street Trash” isn’t just about turning people into human slushies. It’s got heart, humor, and even some genuinely touching moments. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll wonder why that blue alien demon thing is so damn adorable. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, if rollercoasters were made of meat and powered by existential dread.

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Surviving Gen X
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The Visuals: A Trippy 80s Fever Dream

Visually, this movie is like someone took the 1980s, stuffed it into a blender with a bunch of neon paint and psychedelic mushrooms, and hit “puree.” The colors pop, the effects are mind-blowing, and every frame is a work of demented art. It’s the kind of movie that makes you want to lick the screen (please don’t, though – trust me on this one).

Why You Need to Watch This Cinematic Acid Trip

Street Trash still courtesy of Lightbulb Films

It’s batshit crazy: In the best possible way. Every time you think it can’t get weirder, it does.

  1. The effects are insane: Practical effects that’ll make you go “How the fuck did they do that?”
  2. It’s got layers, man: Like an onion, but if that onion was sentient and trying to kill you.
  3. The blue alien thing: Seriously, it’s like if the Smurfs went on a bender and decided to star in a horror movie.
  4. The credits: Yes, even the damn credits are worth watching. Marvel, eat your heart out.

Final Verdict: Five Out of Five Motherfucking Fives

Look, I don’t throw around perfect scores like confetti at a serial killer’s birthday party. But “Street Trash” deserves every single one of those fives. It’s the best way to close out 2024’s cinematic offerings, a tour de force of weirdness that’ll stick with you long after the credits roll (which, again, you need to watch).

5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

So, do yourself a favor: grab some popcorn (and maybe a barf bag), turn off your brain, and let “Street Trash” melt your face off. It’s a ride you won’t forget – no matter how hard you might try.

Remember, kids: Stay in school, don’t do drugs, and for the love of all that’s holy, watch “Street Trash.” Your eyeballs will thank you (right before they try to escape your skull).

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