Tag: james wan

Win Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of M3GAN 2.0

THIS SUMMER, GET READY FOR A KILLER UPGRADE!  UNIVERSAL PICTURES, BLUMHOUSE AND ATOMIC MONSTER PRESENT M3GAN 2.0.  RATED PG-13.  ONLY IN THEATERS JUNE 27TH.

https://www.m3ganmovie.com

The St. Louis screening is at 7PM on Tuesday, June 24th at The Galleria 6 Cinemas.

Pass Link: http://gofobo.com/vtjIK57199

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

M3GAN in M3GAN 2.0, directed by Gerard Johnstone.

The murderous doll who captivated pop culture in 2023 is back. And this time she’s not alone.

The original creative team behind that phenomenon—led by horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse and writer-director Gerard Johnstone—reboot an all-new wild chapter in A.I. mayhem with M3GAN 2.0.

Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous (and impeccably choreographed) rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules.

Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around.

With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I icon is about to meet her match.

M3GAN 2.0 is written and directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Gerard Johnstone, from a story by Gerard Johnstone and Akela Cooper, based on characters created by Akela Cooper & James Wan.

The film co-stars returning cast members Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps as Gemma’s loyal tech teammates, Cole and Tess, and new characters played by Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live, Hacks), Timm Sharp (Apples Never Fall, Percy Jackson and the Olympians) and Grammy winner and 11-time Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (Avatar: The Way of Water, What We Do in the Shadows).

Produced by James Wan, Jason Blum and Allison Williams, the film is executive produced by Joe Hill, Gerard Johnstone, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Mark D. Katchur.

The first M3GAN film shattered box office records, opening to $30.4 million domestically to become the biggest opening weekend for a PG-13 horror film since A Quiet Place Part II. The film went on to gross more than $180 million worldwide.

Stephen King Praises TEACUP Debuting On Peacock October 10

From Executive Producer James Wan (The Conjuring Universe, Archive 81, M3GAN) comes the new horror series TEACUP.

TEACUP follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive. Inspired by the New York Times bestselling novel “Stinger” by Robert McCammon, the cast includes Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, Chaske Spencer, Kathy Baker, Boris McGiver, Caleb Dolden, Emilie Bierre, Luciano Leroux.

The first two episodes of TEACUP premiere on Peacock on Thursday, October 10, followed by two episodes weekly through Halloween. The horror, thriller contains eight 30 Min episodes.

Published in 1988, Stinger is a classic horror novel that blends elements of science fiction and pulp fiction. Set in a dying Texas mining town, the story centers around an alien bounty hunter who arrives to track down a fugitive alien who has escaped from its home planet.

Sounds very much like the movies CRITTERS and THE HIDDEN.

The novel introduced a powerful alien creature, known as Stinger, who comes to Earth on a deadly mission. James Wan says, “Teacup defies easy labels. It’s a genre-bending blend of horror, mystery, and drama, with layers that unfold like a captivating puzzle. It goes beyond chills and thrills and holds up a mirror to humanity, exploring the darkness that resides within us all. We hope you enjoy this wild ride as much as we’ve loved creating it!”

https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/teacup

Horror master Stephen King praised the series over on X:

Watch The Second Trailer For The NIGHT SWIM Movie – In Theaters January 5

What are you afraid of?

Watch and share the new trailer for NIGHT SWIM, in theaters January 5.

No running. No diving. No lifeguard on duty. No swimming after dark. 

Atomic Monster and Blumhouse, the producers of M3GAN, high dive into the deep end of horror with the new supernatural thriller, Night Swim. 

Based on the acclaimed 2014 short film by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire, the film stars Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) as Ray Waller, a former major league baseball player forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, who moves into a new home with his concerned wife Eve (Oscar® nominee Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin), teenage daughter Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle, this fall’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) and young son Elliot (Gavin Warren, Fear the Walking Dead). 

Secretly hoping, against the odds, to return to pro ball, Ray persuades Eve that the new home’s shimmering backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for him. But a dark secret in the home’s past will unleash a malevolent force that will drag the family under, into the depths of inescapable terror. 

Night Swim is written and directed by Bryce McGuire (writer of the upcoming film Baghead) and is produced by James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring franchises, and Jason Blum, the producer of the Halloween films, The Black Phone and The Invisible Man. The film is executive produced by Michael Clear and Judson Scott for Wan’s Atomic Monster and by Ryan Turek for Blum’s Blumhouse.

© 2023 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

See The New Trailer For AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM And Get Your Tickets Now

Tickets are now available for AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM, plus a brand new trailer has also dropped for director James Wan’s film. Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”

https://www.aquamanmovie.com/

Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.

All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior.

Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin. Directed by Wan, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is produced by Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan. The executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada.

The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.

Joining Wan behind-the-camera is his sterling team of “Aquaman” artisans: director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“Jumanji: The Next Level”), editor Kirk Morri (“Furious 7”), composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (“Wonder Woman”) and music supervisor is Michelle Silverman (“Malignant”). Visual effects supervisor Nick Davis (“The Clash of the Titans” films, “The Dark Knight”) and costume designer Richard Sale (“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Ready Player One”) also join.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atomic Monster / A Peter Safran Production of A James Wan Film, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” set to open in theaters internationally beginning 22 December 2023 and in North America on December 22, 2023; it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM Teaser Swims In – Watch The Trailer This Thursday

Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures/ ™ & © DC Comics

Director James Wan and Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa—along with Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman—return in the sequel to the highest-grossing DC film of all time: “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”

Having failed to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta, still driven by the need to avenge his father’s death, will stop at nothing to take Aquaman down once and for all. This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.

All returning to the roles they originated, Jason Momoa plays Arthur Curry/Aquaman, now balancing his duties as both the King of Atlantis and a new father; Patrick Wilson is Orm, Aquaman’s half-brother and his nemesis, who must now step into a new role as his brother’s reluctant ally; Amber Heard is Mera, Atlantis’ Queen and mother of the heir to the throne; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Black Manta, committed more than ever to avenge his father’s death by destroying Aquaman, his family and Atlantis; and Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, a fierce leader and mother with the heart of a warrior. Also reprising their roles are Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus and Randall Park as Dr. Stephen Shin.

Directed by Wan, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is produced by Peter Safran, Wan and Rob Cowan. The executive producers are Galen Vaisman and Walter Hamada.

The screenplay is by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by James Wan & David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jason Momoa & Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, based on characters from DC, Aquaman created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger.

Joining Wan behind-the-camera is his sterling team of “Aquaman” artisans: director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“Jumanji: The Next Level”), editor Kirk Morri (“Furious 7”), composer Rupert Gregson-Williams (“Wonder Woman”) and music supervisor is Michelle Silverman (“Malignant”). Visual effects supervisor Nick Davis (“The Clash of the Titans” films, “The Dark Knight”) and costume designer Richard Sale (“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Ready Player One”) also join.

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents An Atomic Monster / A Peter Safran Production of A James Wan Film, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” set to open in theaters internationally beginning 20 December 2023 and in North America on December 20, 2023; it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The NUN II Gets A Scary New International Trailer

“Whatever you do, whatever you hear, Do. Not. Look. Away.” On September 8th, the greatest evil in the conjuring universe returns. But before you head out to your local cinemas, check out this 30 second international promo for THE NUN II.

New Line Cinema brings you the horror thriller “The Nun II,” the next chapter in the story of “The Nun,” the highest grossing entry in the juggernaut $2 billion “The Conjuring” Universe. 1956 – France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading.

The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun. Taissa Farmiga (“The Nun,” “The Gilded Age”) returns as Sister Irene, joined by Jonas Bloquet (“Tirailleurs,” “The Nun”), Storm Reid (“The Last of Us,” “The Suicide Squad”), Anna Popplewell (“Fairytale,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” trilogy) and Bonnie Aarons (reprising her role from “The Nun”), surrounded by an ensemble cast of international talent.

Michael Chaves (“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”) directs, from a screenplay by Ian Goldberg & Richard Naing (“Eli,” “The Autopsy of Jane Doe”) and Akela Cooper (“M3GAN,” “Malignant”), with a story by Cooper, based on characters created by James Wan & Gary Dauberman.

The Safran Company’s Peter Safran and Atomic Monster’s James Wan produce, continuing their collaboration as filmmakers on all of the previous “Conjuring” films. “The Nun II” is executive produced by Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Gary Dauberman, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Michael Polaire.

Joining Chaves behind the camera are director of photography Tristan Nyby (“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” “The Dark and the Wicked”), production designer Stéphane Cressend (“Les Vedettes,” “The French Dispatch”), editor Gregory Plotkin (2022’s “Scream,” “Get Out”), visual effects producer Sophie A. Leclerc (“Finch,” “Lucy”) and costume designer Agnès Béziers (“Oxygen,” “The Breitner Commando”), with composer Marco Beltrami (2022’s “Scream,” ”Venom: Let There Be Carnage”) providing the score.

“The Conjuring” Universe is the highest grossing horror franchise in history with $2+ billion worldwide. Globally, four of “The Conjuring” Universe titles have earned more than $300 million worldwide each (“The Nun,” $366 million; “The Conjuring 2,” $322 million; “The Conjuring,” $320 million; “Annabelle: Creation,” $307 million), and all seven have each grossed more than $200 million. “The Nun” is the top-earning film in the franchise, with more than $366 million worldwide.

New Line Cinema presents an Atomic Monster / Safran Company production, “The Nun II,” distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is set to open in North America on September 8, 2023 and internationally beginning 6 September, 2023.

Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures

Terrifying INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR Final Trailer Hits

Ty Simpkins in Screen Gems INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR

Here’s a first look at the final trailer for INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR, in theaters July 7. James Wan, Leigh Whannell and Oren Peli’s “little horror franchise that could” has earned $555 million worldwide on a combined $26.5 million budget, making it the second-most profitable major horror franchise behind Paranormal Activity. (Forbes)

The original cast from INSIDIOUS is back with Patrick Wilson (also making his directorial debut), Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne and Andrew Astor. Check out the original INSIDIOUS trailer from 2010 HERE.

Horror fans – get ready for more nightmares and the terrifying conclusion.

In INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR, the horror franchise’s original cast returns for the final chapter of the Lambert family’s terrifying saga. To put their demons to rest once and for all, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and a college-aged Dalton (Ty Simpkins) must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family’s dark past and a host of new and more horrifying terrors that lurk behind the red door.

Also stars Sinclair Daniel and Hiam Abbass. Produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli, James Wan and Leigh Whannell. The screenplay is written by Scott Teems from a story by Leigh Whannell, based on characters created by Leigh Whannell.

Catch INSIDIOUS and INSIDIOUS 2 on MAX. https://www.max.com/movies/738872bb-70ce-4ddc-afc8-bf6a98437fff https://www.max.com/movies/0d66aca9-cc58-4f8e-b16d-b74d174d3e7c

Atomic Monster And Blumhouse Producing New Supernatural Film NIGHT SWIM Starring Wyatt Russell And Kerry Condon

photo credit: Brian Bowen Smith

Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon will star in Night Swim from writer/director Bryce McGuire. The film is based on the short film created by McGuire and Rod Blackhurst. Atomic Monster and Blumhouse are producing the film for Universal Pictures, and is the first collaboration for the two companies following the debut of the recent hit film M3GAN, which grossed $30.4M domestically this past weekend.

Details are being kept under wraps but Night Swim is being described as a supernatural thriller built around the hidden source of terror found in an iconic backyard swimming pool. The film is slated to start production soon and will open theatrically on January 19, 2024.

James Wan and Jason Blum are producers on the film. Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear and Judson Scott and Blumhouse’s Ryan Turek are executive producers. Alayna Glasthal will be the creative executive overseeing the film for Atomic Monster.

John Walker (Wyatt Russell) in Marvel Studios’ THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Wyatt Russell will next be seen starring in the Apple+ and Legendary Television’s Untitled Godzilla Series, alongside Kurt Russell, Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski. Following, Wyatt will be seen in Marvel’s upcoming film Thunderbolts, alongside Florence Pugh and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Disney is slated to release this project July 26, 2024. While the exact plot is still being kept under wraps, this will be a reprisal of Wyatt’s acclaimed role in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Most recently, Wyatt was seen in FX’s acclaimed limited drama series, Under the Banner of Heaven, alongside Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sam Worthington. Also last year, offscreen, Wyatt starred and executive produced the new QCode action podcast series Classified. Russell’s previous film credits include: Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!!, which was nominated for a Gotham Award in the category of Best Feature; Jeff Grace’s Folk Hero & Funny Guy, for which he starred in, wrote and played all the live guitar performances; Ingrid Goes West; Overlord; Joe Wright’s Hitchcockian drama, The Woman in the Window; Ethan Hawke’s Blaze alongside Sam Rockwell and Kris Kristofferson, among several others. On television, his previous credits include the Blumhouse Television limited series for Showtime, The Good Lord Bird alongside Ethan Hawke; starring in AMC’s Lodge 49 which Wyatt reprised his role for both seasons; and Netflix’s critically acclaimed anthology series Black Mirror.

photo credit: Stephanie Diani

Kerry Condon can currently be seen starring opposite Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in Martin McDonagh acclaimed film, The Banshees of Inisherin. Condon has garnered rave reviews as well as Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations for her performance as Siobhán.

Kerry Condon in the film THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN. Photo by Jonathan Hession. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

She will next be seen in the upcoming thriller In The Land Of Saints And Sinners alongside Liam Neeson and Ciarán Hinds. Condon’s film credits include Angela’s Ashes, the Academy Award-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Bad Samaritan; Dom Hemingway opposite Jude Law; and the Oscar winning short film The Shore, among others. Condon lends her voice to the role of “Friday” in Avengers: Endgame, Infinity War and Age of Ultron as well as in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Captain American: Civil War. On television, Kerry was recently seen as “Molly Sullivan” in the third season of Showtime’s Ray Donovan as well as the series’ successive movie and appeared on shows such as Women on the Verge, Better Call Saul,  Luck and Rome. On stage at just 19, Condon originated the role of “Mairead” in The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh at The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York. In that same year she played “Ophelia” in Hamlet, making her the youngest actress to ever play that role for The Royal Shakespeare Company. Kerry also starred in the first production of After the End by Dennis Kelly. In 2009, she appeared in The Cripple of Inishmaan, also by McDonagh, for which she won a Lucille Lortel and a Drama Desk award.

photo credit: Blumhouse

After graduating AFI, Bryce McGuire slashed onto the genre scene with the sale of his original spec, The White Room, to Amblin/Picture Company and work on Never Ever for Blumhouse and Baghead for StudioCanal/Picture Co. McGuire is currently working with Vera Farmiga on the surrealist comedy series Tabloid Dreams for Bron Studios.

Wyatt Russell is represented by UTA, Narrative and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.

Kerry Condon is represented by CAA, Curtis Brown Group, Framework Entertainment, Wolf-Kasteler, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.

Bryce McGuire is represented by Gersh and Logan Clare at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

James Wan is represented by CAA, Stacey Testro International, and Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light.

Meet M3GAN In First Trailer And Poster

M3GAN

Meet M3GAN, your new best friend.

Watch the trailer for M3GAN, from James Wan and Blumhouse.

M3GAN is in theaters January 13.

From the most prolific minds in horror—James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring franchises, and Blumhouse, the producer of the Halloween films, The Black Phone and The Invisible Man—comes a fresh new face in terror.

One of Wan’s best and most recent flicks has been MALIGNANT.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

M3GAN

Produced by Jason Blum and James Wan, M3GAN is directed by award-winning filmmaker Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant, The Nun 2) based on a story by Akela Cooper and James Wan.

The film also stars Ronny Chieng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will & Grace), Jen Van Epps (Cowboy Bebop), Lori Dungey (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, extended edition) and Stephane Garneau-Monten (Straight Forward).

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse present an Atomic Monster production in association with Divide/Conquer. The film’s executive producers are Allison Williams, Mark Katchur, Ryan Turek, Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath.

MALIGNANT – Review

By Marc Butterfield

The Halloween season kicks off with director James Wan’s MALIGNANT.

The story is about a woman, Madison, played by Annabelle Wallis. Madison’s husband is killed in their home by an intruder and she’s left for dead. She’s pregnant and she loses her baby in that incident. She experiences major traumatic emotion from the incident and ends up developing a psychic connection to her attacker. She starts having visions of the attacker and his murderous deeds. Now she’s trying to help the police capture this killer whilst trying to unravel the mystery of why she is connected to the killer and at the same time, trying to not get herself killed in the process. It is a unique take on the “seeing through the eye of the killer” sub-genre.

Let me start by saying that whatever your expectations of MALIGNANT are, they are probably not correct. The movie starts off with a long scene set in the past that reminds one of “The Re-Animator” in both quality of set and acting, but that is not to say that it’s a bad thing. In fact, it may be the perfect way to set up the whole movie. There are a ton of clues, but also a ton of misdirection, and things that don’t make sense later do, and things that start off making sense at some point stop.

Wan himself has called this a “gender-bender” and a “genre-bender”, and both are accurate. It’s difficult to say too much about this film without giving it away though. The star of the film is Annabelle Wallis, and she does a great job here seeming at once to be both determined and terrified. She pulls the range in from each end, and you feel like she’s a victim who wants to come out of this alive, but also believable as a real woman, not a superhero. Determination, after all, is a great trait, but if you’re one hundred pounds, you are NOT a combatant. The rest of the cast are great supporting players. Her sister, played by Maddie Hassan, shows a constant, deep love for her sister, supportive and protective, even though she is the younger sibling. George Young and Michole Briana White are the detectives trying to get to the bottom of the murders, playing competent, yet sometimes incredulous cops. The pair are great at helping move the story along, and you sometimes feel like they are aiding the audience discount some clues, while also misleading you with their conclusions.

The last 20 minutes felt like non-stop action, which is well choreographed, and over-the-top violence that was almost cartoonish, and even a little darkly amusing. The talented artisans’ phenomenal work include director of photography Michael Burgess and editor Kirk Morri (“Aquaman,” “The Conjuring 2”), production designer Desma Murphy (art director, “Aquaman,” “Furious 7”), as well as costume designer Lisa Norcia (“Insidious: The Last Key”). The movie is made much more sinister with a score by Wan’s longtime collaborator Joseph Bishara.

Don’t miss out, it’s one of Wan’s best yet, and a story that you’ll be discussing with your friends who saw it. Filled with campy surprises and jump scares, MALIGNANT is colossal fun.

3 1/2 out of 4 stars

MALIGNANT is in theaters now and on HBO Max. Rated R for strong horror violence and gruesome images, and for language.