Malevolent

In mid-eighties Glasgow brother and sister, Jackson and Angela Sayers, run a fake ghost busting service. They, and a couple of associates turn up with various impressive looking pieces of equipment and Angela, with the 'gift' inherited from her late mother persuades the ghosts to leave. On their latest job she thinks she really saw something. Their next job takes them to a large country house which was once an orphanage. Owner, Mrs Green, tells them it is haunted by the ghosts of girls murdered by her son many years before. Jackson sees it as a great opportunity to make a quick buck to pay off his debts but things soon look more scary; Angela sees the girls, with their mouths sown shut and one of them is hurt in an accident... things will soon get much more dangerous for them.

This isn't a great film but it is solid enough. There is a decent twist and the end is suitably disturbing, and quite violent. The setting is good although I'm not sure why we are told it is set in the eighties as it doesn't really have a feel of that time; it could have been set anytime in the last forty years from what we see. The cast is impressive; Florence Pugh is great as Angela, I've yet to see her not impress; Ben Lloyd-Hughes is solid as Jackson and Celia Imrie is impressive as Mrs. Greene. The scenes in the house are nicely creepy and there are some decent jump scares. Overall this isn't a classic and those involved have starred in better things; however if you want a ninety minute horror film you could do a lot worse.

I really looked forward to Malevolent, particularly when I read the outline and saw that both Celia Imrie and James Cosmo were in it.

The script is a really good one, the plot is clever, and is probably the film's biggest asset, the performances are good, and at least the film manages to surprise you, as you watch it, you think you know exactly the direction the film is moving in, you quickly discover you were wrong.

It is definitely flawed, at times it seems not to make sense, almost as if scenes were cut, but it hangs together well, and after a pretty tame start it transforms into a much grittier, darker film.

Fine performances, Ben Lloyd-Hughes and Florence Pugh were particularly good I thought, Celia Imrie is excellent as always, a great chance to witness just how wonderfully talented and versatile an actress she is, what a difference to her character in Acorn Antiques.

It never looks high budget, but it's an enjoyable watch, 7/10.

A simple idea but easily to determine how it's going to end. Good acting but sometimes a bit stiff. Some scenes were gruesome but overall an ok 'ghost' story if you have a spare hour or so to watch it. Nothing to keep you on the edge of your seat.

It wasn't terrible. I think the best way to sum it up is "good idea, poor execution". The film had a good cast and the acting was pretty good and I think the plot twist was a great idea. It was just lacking in shock factor. The ending felt rushed as well, and the beginning of the film dragged on so there wasn't enough time left to really focus on the climax. The pacing was off. I remember as soon as the film was done I said "wait, so that's it?". Overall, it's not a bad movie, and I don't regret watching it. Would I recommend it? No, I probably wouldn't. Keep in mind this is simply my opinion. I know some really liked this movie.

Just a short review:



The first (jump) scares are good but after that the movie slows down. Acting is okay at worst but the lead actress is cute. The movie starts fine yet slows down when the actual plot starts. The movie has good ideas that failed to execute properly, but still is fine. Don't expect to be scared after the first 30 minutes.



Veredict: Has potential but although not executed properly it's at worst decent to watch. Not much scares. If you like Get Out/ It Follows type of movies, give this a watch.