There's an effective chill to Malevolent, one of those Netflix releases that appeared two Octobers ago with no pomp or circumstance. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't marketed at all. Not because it's "less than" in any capacity, though some might disagree, but because it's an economical slice into the haunted house genre that becomes a joy to watch mostly as a result of how unexpected, unpretentious, and delightfully wicked it is. I had absolutely no expectations and, now having seen it, I feel that served me well. So if you are willing to just dive in and live with this movie for its 90-minute run time, I urge you to stop reading now and take it for what it is meant to be. That is, a spooky little horror movie meant to be experienced without prior knowledge.
But it you have seen it, or don't care, let's talk! We're in 1986 Scotland and our main characters are two young charlatans. Angela and Jackson are American siblings that run a small paranormal investigating team dedicated to their distressed or bereaved clients looking for answers, peace, or even an exorcism. The conceit of two nonbelievers entering challenging situations is no new trope, but what makes this relationship special is that Angela apparently has some sixth sense about her; she hears voices and sees ghosts just like her mother, who has committed suicide after being driven mad by her abilities.
There are some interesting parallels in this movie about people being out of place. Obviously ghosts are by definition out of place, and the revelation that they are in fact real underscores the titular meaning: this is a classic ghost story, meaning that these are ghosts of people who died badly and are malevolently seeking vengeance. Angela and Jackson are also out of place, as Americans in Scotland, callously appropriating the culture and exploiting the people; they are out of place because Jackson seems to doubt their mother's very real affliction and Angela experiences life-altering fear as the visitations manifest before her. There's a great moment early on where we focus on her face as she sees a ghost appear before her; the ghost is in the foreground but we are only seeing her face as she registers that this is an uncanny moment.
But, ultimately it is Florence Pugh who made this movie enjoyable for me. The scares are fine, the atmosphere is spooky enough, and the story is interesting if not terribly original (maybe don't go into a haunted foster home?). It's a ghost story, sure, but remember that these ghosts died badly, which means somebody is to blame. Celia Imrie (a delightful surprise) and Ben Lloyd-Hughes are solid in their roles, but Pugh carries the movie with her typical strength and grace. I was pleasantly shocked by the sudden turn after the first hour, and things get shockingly vicious by the climax. If you're ready to get a little spooky, a little bloody, then think a bit, and soon after call it quits, this is the movie for you.
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