Although not the first time studio's have tricked audiences by inaccurately categorizing upcoming films, Warner Bro's achieved a marketing performance worthy of a 'Master of Deception' award with James Wan's Malignant: A new vision of terror. The film itself, is also worthy of a few awards.
James Wan's flashy new horror mystery Malignant premiered in September 2021 and deeply shocked audiences all around the globe with it's thrilling story, eerie visuals and unnatural dialogs.
In the film we follow twenty-seven year old Madison, played by the talented Annabelle Wallis, who starts experiencing visions of gruesome murders after being put in a Seattle hospital by her abusive husband (Jake Abel). Madison, tormented by the violent crimes she's made witness of, decides to help local detective Kekoa Shaw (George Young) in stopping the monstrous killer from taking another victim.
The film is influenced by the late 70's Italian Giallo movement , Wan naming the works of filmmakers Dario Argento, Mario Bava, and Brian De Palma as his main sources of inspiration.
"I’ve always harbored this desire to make a Giallo movie, but do it my way; my version of Giallo" - Wan explained.
This change in direction from Wan came as a surprise to fans - Wan's most recent work included 2 of the most popular contemporary supernatural horror franchises - Insidious and The Conjuring. This, and the strong visual associations present in Warner Bro's official trailer, led audiences to believe Malignant was to be yet another paranormal story from the acclaimed Australian director.
Upon seeing the film, however, viewers quickly realized this was far from a supernatural thriller - and Malignant's whimsical writing and campy performances caused a shocking wave of strong reactions. Some fans quickly caught up to the director's unusual approach to telling the story and found humor in the situation, while others were left confused and disappointed with the way Malignant was delivered. This array of emotions fed into the success of Warner Bro's marketing stunt, causing many to passionately voice their opinions online and invite others to the experience.
Taking a personal standpoint, Malignant felt like a combination between Wan's masterful approach to unveiling the mysteries of the unknown he's showcased in the world of The Conjuring, and his ability to stun audiences with the perversion and misogyny of human killers, like Jigsaw. Certainly, the incorporation of themes of the Italian Giallo felt like a breath of fresh air, bringing new life to a genre that's almost forgotten by today's viewer.
Watch Malignant's official trailer here:
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