James Wan’s latest directorial offering is a patchwork quilt of ’70s and ’80s horror nods, but the narrative threads aren’t held toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her quite so well. The thriller goes back and in/with regard to’concerning’regarding th in time so Madison (Annabelle Wallis), a meek nurse dealing with an abusive husband (Jake Abel), can piece toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her who she is after becoming taracquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ed by a stalking menace that has both herself and local law enin/with regard to’concerning’regarding cement confounded.###It certainly looks the nostalgic part despite its present-day setting. An old gothic house with more than a passing resemblance to the home in Beetlejuice takes centre stage, while retro household appliances, telekinetic threats and telepathic communication through TVs and radios reek of Poltergeist and Carrie. And when it comes to truly gruesome murder scenes, Malignant could give Mario Bava’s A Bay Of Blood a run in/with regard to’concerning’regarding its money.###With so many ideas spinning at once, the pacing often wavers.###The body horror make up and vibrant slasher movie lighting admirably hint at Cronenberg and Argento respectively: in one scene, a in/with regard to’concerning’regarding eboding red light streams through the window of a soon-to-be victim of a killer with a grotesque visage. Screenwriter Akela Cooper, working from a story she, Wan and Ingrid Bisu conjured up, uses these referential tropes to wrong-foot expectations to some success. But with so many ideas spinning at once, the pacing often wavers, plot holes in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m and the maintain’sustain ing characters of Detective Shaw (George Young) and sister Sydney (Maddie Hasson) seem underdeveloped.###The most obvious, and pretty commendable, homage might just be Annabelle Wallis’s choice of wig. As Madison, her long brunette locks with a fringe possess’own’nurse Suspiria’s Suzy Bannion and The Shining’s Wendy Torrance springing to mind. The latter especially when Wallis is squated against a locked nursery door, petrified, her eyes popping out and jaw wide open, trying to stop a wicked’dreadful’undesirable’adverse’vile thing from acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting in.###The English actress nails the wilting damsel. She displays an astute vulnerability but as with Duvall’s iconic character, Madison’s willowy figure and fragile state of mind hide an inner strength waiting to burst out in a ferocious final act that is definitely worth the wait.