The Honeycut: ‘Malignant’ is a Movie with Two Identities

A Tale of Two Stories

Imagine a movie that starts out like a standard haunted house story, then turns into a crime/action thriller by the end. It sounds like it shouldn’t work, but James Wan makes it happen in “Malignant.” 

I first saw this film last year and was surprised by where it went. So, when my co-host, Kevin, chose to cover it on the Midnight Terrors Podcast, I was interested to rewatch it, knowing the major plot twist. Horror author Z.C. Krol also joined the show to discuss this one. 

The question is, does “Malignant” pull its twist off well? Or does it need to be cut out like a tumor?

The Story

If you haven’t seen “Malignant,” stop reading now. Go watch it and come back later. 

Madison Mitchell is trapped in an abusive marriage. When her husband shoves her into a wall, she cracks her head. After the domestic assault, her husband is killed. This leads to a series of supernatural occurrences, including the murder of three doctors. 

The twist is, Madison was born with an evil twin brother attached to her, Gabriel. He is the one taking control of her body and committing the murders. 

Honey’s Cut 

“Malignant” is awesome. 

You never really know what is happening until the final thirty minutes. James Wan is known for haunted house movies like “Insidious” and “The Conjuring.”  He does a great job of making you think that’s what this movie is going to be. 

Then, halfway through, it turns into a crime/thriller with detectives trying to catch the killer. At this point, it reminded me of something like “Se7en.” 

Then at the end, Gabriel/Madison is like a trained assassin, ripping apart a jail cell full of inmates and taking out an entire police department. This fight scene is like the iconic lobby shootout in “The Matrix.” I love that this movie isn’t afraid to go completely off the rails. 

In flashbacks, we see Madison’s childhood was spent at a hospital, where the doctors were studying Gabriel. This thing is super unsettling. He’s attached to Madison’s back. He has a face, chest, and arms that stick out of her back and twitch around. 

Eventually, the doctors can’t control Gabriel and his powers, so they cut him up and they place what’s left of him inside Madison’s skull. It’s why she hears his voice, witnesses the murders, and why he can control her body. 

Honey’s Final Thought 

I picked up on a theme this time around. Madison spent her childhood in a medical facility being operated on by doctors. Once she was adopted, Gabriel still had a hold on her during her younger years. When she grows up, Madison finds herself in an abusive marriage. 

She’s never been in control. Others have always been lording over her. 

In the end, Madison is able to defeat Gabriel by taking back control of her own mind and, in turn, her body. 

If you dig a little deeper, you can see that “Malignant” is the story of a woman taking back control of her mind, her body, and her life. In a movie about an evil conjoined twin with supernatural abilities, that is a surprisingly powerful and very human conclusion.