Malignant

 "Maligant" (2021, James Wan, Atomic Monster, Boom Entertainment, Boom! Studios) 

Madi (Annabelle Wallis) experiences a traumatic event. Left reeling from this and convinced that either an intruder or an intrusive force, has gained access to her home, Madi's sister, Sydney (Maddie Hasson), offers to move in and help Madi recover. However, as time goes on, Madi begins to see things - things that she could not possibly know about. Horrible things that are happening in real time, putting her under the suspicion of Officers Shaw (George Young) and Moss (Michole Briana White).

A new style for Wan, the film kicks off feeling like a much older, campier film, before jumping into more familiar territory with spooky shenanigans in a large house. But this film delivers so much more than the above. With a winding, interesting plot that hops from the bizarre to the outrageous and a gifted cast purposefully hamming it up for effect - but not too much. 

The visuals are excellently used and really appeal to me as a fan of 70s and 80s horror films, J-horror films and practical effects.  "Malignant" pays homage to Henenlotter's "Basket Case" in the best possible way. 

There's so much more to this film, but I don't want to give away too much. My advice is to go in knowing as little as possible.

[Image: Boom Entertainment, et al]

Hani

Split (2016)

"Split" (2016, M. Night Shyamalan, Blinding Edge Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Universal Pictures) is a psychological horror. Not to be confused with either the bowling movie, or the short horror film from 2014 of the same name.

Three teenage girls are kidnapped by a man called Kevin (James McAvoy) who has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, or split personalities. He has 23 personalities in total. Whilst only some of his personalities actively want to harm the girls, none of them are inclined to help them, fearing rebuke from Dennis; the dominant personality and head kidnapper.

McAvoy delivers such a wealth of talent in this film. Although he is not given opportunity to show all 23 personalities, the ones he does portray on-screen are expertly delivered, very different and so very sinister. It's enough on its own simply to watch him switch between characters and costumes with ease.

The acting from all characters is pretty solid, the main failing for me of this film was the story telling itself. M. Night Shyamalan films can be hit or miss for me. In the main his ideas are excellent concepts, but his twists and turns often feel a little forced and last minute. For me, Split also suffered from this aspect. An excellently quiet, sinister build up suddenly spiralled into a bit of a mess in the pursuit of a twist.

However, overall the film was intriguing enough to engage my attention and the superb acting from McAvoy really keeps you guessing.

[Image: Blumhouse Productions, et al]

Hani

The House at the End of the Street

"The House at the End of the Street" (2012, Mark Tonderai, FilmNation Entertainment) is a thriller/slasher/mystery film... or at least it aims to be.

Sarah Cassidy (Elisabeth Shue) and her teenaged daughter, Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence), have just moved in to a rented house on a suburban street from the city. They have managed to afford it only because its neighbouring house is supposedly empty after the family were brutally murdered by one of their children.

But the lure of the creepily so-not-empty house proves too much for Elissa, who can't help but get to know the inhabitant....

A pretty standard modern mystery-horror with a lot of loud-noise-haha-it's-really-nothing jump scares and a convoluted but tedious plot.

It's a perfect 'horror' for teens to cut their fangs on, but offers little, other than Jennifer Lawrence, for a more mature horror fan.

[Image: FilmNation Entertainment]

 

Hani

The Others

"The Others" (2001, Alejandro Amenábar, StudioCanal, Warner Bros., Las Producciones del Escorpion, Cruise/Wagner Productions) is a haunted house movie and a psychological thriller.

Grace (Nicole Kidman), a devout Christian, is raising her young children Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley) alone in her large country manor home in Jersey while her husband, Charles (Christopher Eccleston), is away fighting in World War One. Both children suffer from an uncommon disease and are photosensitive so the curtains are always closed.

Just as she needs them, three new servants turn up at the house hoping for work: a maid and nanny, Mrs Mills (Fionnula Flanagan), a gardener called Mr. Tuttle (Eric Sykes) and a young mute girl called Lydia (Elaine Cassidy).

The children are determined that the house is haunted by several spirits, especially that of a young boy called Victor, but Grace pooh-poohs this. That is until she begins to suspect something is wrong herself.

A quiet and slow-burning film that has the feeling of an older horror-thriller. Well paced and intriguing enough not to become boring, but it doesn't make use of many jump scares and uses very few effects.

The child actors are terrific and really give an excellent performance. However, perhaps having seen too many twist endings in my time, and regardless of clever suspense building techniques, I guessed what was coming a lot earlier than I would have preferred.

Regardless, it's a good story and has a darker element to it than you might expect.

[Image: StudioCanal & Warner Bros.]

Hani

The Village

"The Village" (2004, M. Night Shyamalan, Blinding Edge Pictures, Touchstone Pictures) is about the inhabitants of a small, secluded village in Pennsylvania who believe that, after many years of peace, the creatures in the surrounding forest are beginning to venture into their homes to feed...


I'll admit my main interests in this movie are the awesome Sigourney Weaver (who I have much respect for as an actress) and also Fran Kranz (who I have a crush on!).


A quiet film with a lot of ye olde conversation and I'll admit to becoming a little bored at points. The so-called scary scenes are not much in comparison to some of my old favourites and it's hardly a gore fest.


But I liked it for the intrigue and if you can let yourself fall into the shoes of our blind protagonist, Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard), some of scenes really have an excellent creep factor to them!

There's also some nice, down-to-earth family and friends moments that manage not to be too soppy.

In true M. Night Shyamalan fashion there are of course twists and turns in the plot. Nothing quite as shocking as "The Sixth Sense", but really good fun nonetheless.

My main issue with the film is that it's just not scary and they show way too much for the suspense to be properly built. But I'd watch it again, so that's something!

[Image: Blinding Edge Pictures]

 

Hani