Malevolent - Le voci del male

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.

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.

While far from being a great example of the genre, this haunted house / survival horror film is saved from banality by two things. Firstly, its sound design, which makes good use of the period setting to build atmosphere through the scratches, clicks and distorted audio of walkie-talkies used by the team of paranormal investigators. But secondly, and most importantly, by strong performances from Florence Pugh and Celia Imrie (who is able to bring depth and feeling to a character that could have been a paper cutout in the hands of a less skilled actor). The plot also teases at some parallels between the personalities and motivations of these two characters, both in their relationships with their mothers and their desperation to hold onto what remains of their families.

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.

Maybe I don't expect to see a Citizen Cane level movie when I am watching a Netflix horror film. Some of the reviews make it seem like they watched a different movie. It is a decent horror movie. It won't blow you away, but the story is original enough and acting good enough that it is an enjoyable movie to watch. It's on Netflix give it a shot.