5 Years Ago Today: James Wan Made One Of The Wildest Horror Movies Of All Time

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

James Wan is truly one of our modern horror masters. Wan made “Saw,” the gory smash hit that birthed one of horror’s biggest franchises. That was just the tip of the iceberg, as he went on to create other franchises such as “Insidious,” in addition to being the architect behind The Conjuring Universe. But five years ago, Wan gave us his most insane creation to date and one of the wildest mainstream horror movies ever made.

Released in 2021, “Malignant” was Wan’s return to the genre after turning “Aquaman” into the highest-grossing DC superhero movie ever when that film made over $1 billion at the box office. (And that was after he turned “Furious 7” into one of the biggest movies of all time.) Since Warner Bros. wanted him to return for the inevitable “Aquaman 2,” Wan was able to exercise the ol’ “one for you, one for me” strategy and used that bargaining chip to get this delightfully deranged motion picture made.

The movie centers on Madison (Annabelle Wallis), who is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders. Things get much, much worse when she discovers that these terrifying dreams are actually terrifying realities, ones that have ties to her mysterious past. As the movie ramps up, the reveals get wilder, leading to the bonkers conclusion that is the ending of “Malignant.”

People say stuff like “that was crazy” or “this movie is nuts” all of the time, particularly in the realm of horror. Oftentimes, it’s just normies (with all due respect) experiencing the insanity that the genre has to offer when, in actuality, it’s not all that wild. But make no mistake: Wan earned the wild label when he made this one. It’s f*****g bonkers.

Ever since James Wan started his career, he hasn’t exactly been known for holding back. “Saw” pretty much helped usher in the “torture porn” subgenre, and the ending to that original movie is wild as hell. Even though his follow-up, “Dead Silence,” was a critical and commercial flop, it’s now beloved in no small part because it’s also absolutely bananas.

This to say, it’s not like it’s surprising to say that Wan made a deranged horror movie. But “Malignant” dials Wan’s most unhinged sensibilities up to 11, “Spinal Tap” style. Those who have seen it can undoubtedly attest to that. I am, however, writing this under the assumption that many of you reading this haven’t seen it yet. It’s one of those movies that’s best entered into with the surprises left intact.

What I will say is that I distinctly remember seeing this movie on opening weekend in 2021, thrilled to be going back to the movies again after the earliest days of the pandemic were behind us. The Alamo Drafthouse theater was pretty darn full and, dear reader, when I tell you it was one of the most electric screenings I’ve ever been to, I’m not joking. There were gasps. There were laughs. There was literal clapping. It was raucous in the best of ways.

There’s a reason why Stephen King praised Wan’s “Malignant.” It’s well-earned. You’ll never hear the name “Gabriel” again without cracking a grin or, depending on one’s opinion of the movie, shaking your head. This one’s for the sickos, as it were. It’s divisive, but for the right viewer, this movie scratches an itch that almost nothing else can scratch, at least not in the realm of remotely mainstream cinema.

James Wan was given a $40 million budget by Warner Bros. and seemingly wasn’t told “no” at any point along the way while making “Malignant.” It’s a rare bit of delightful unchecked studio filmmaking from a man with a vision. That vision isn’t for everyone, but it’s hard not to admire the sheer audacity of it. The jail scene alone? Priceless. 

The problem is that Warner Bros. premiered its entire 2021 movie slate in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously, greatly hampering its chances at the box office. As a result, Wan’s wildest cinematic vision yet topped out with just shy of $35 million worldwide. At a time when “Obsession” and “Backrooms” are among the biggest theatrical hits of the year, it does feel like this one deserved better.

Wan said he would love to build a “Malignant” cinematic universe. One can’t help but wonder what that would possibly look like, but for those who enjoyed this movie’s utterly insane, bloody action, it’s certainly an appealing proposition. It’s merely a fantasy, though, as this movie is probably never getting a sequel since it was far from a commercial success. Then again, maybe that’s for the best.

More than any other genre, horror is all about building franchises. That’s what’s great about it in a lot of cases. But there’s also something to be said for letting a thing exist and leaving well enough alone. What Wan created five years ago is special. Horror is also one of the only genres where original filmmaking can still thrive, and Wan, to his credit, made something wildly original at a time when he had the clout to do so. My hat’s off to a legend.

You can grab “Malignant” on 4K, Blu-ray, or DVD from Amazon.