The extraordinary 2019 horror movieMidsommarwas proof that Ari Aster had a long career ahead of him, but another Florence Pugh horror proved that Pugh herself was more than just a one-trick pony. DirectingHereditaryin 2018, Ari Aster was the most exciting thing to happen to the horror genre in decades. And byMidsommar’s ending, it was clear that Pugh had cashed in on Aster’s success, honing her horror career in the rural Sweden nightmare flick with aplomb. Yet, one Netflix movie showcased Pugh’s horror chops beforehand. She might have become Hollywood’s leading Scream Queen if she weren’t so popular in every genre.
Withevery death inMidsommar, it became increasingly clear that Pugh had experience in horror. She masterfully navigates each devastating blow to her character’s security. Pugh’s character, Dani, develops from a subjugated and depressed girlfriend to a lethal May Queen, avenging herself of her boyfriend’s inadequacy and infidelity in the shockingcoup de grâceto their relationship. However,in 2018, Pugh starred inMalevolent, perfecting the skills that led her toMidsommar. This movie is terrifying in its own way, and may be able to capture different kinds of audiences fromMidsommar.
Malevolent Follows Pugh As Half Of A Team Of Paranormal Scammers
Fans Of Midsommar Should Watch Florence Pugh’s Malevolent
Florence Pugh is brilliant inMalevolent, where she plays a scam artist faking paranormal encounters. Although Pugh previously starred in an intriguing 2014 mystery thriller calledThe Falling,Malevolentmay be the first time the future Oscar nominee showed a real knack for horror. Pugh stars alongsideSaint Maud’s Morfydd Clark inThe Falling, playing a tearaway teen with chilling ties to the supernatural. Likewise, inMalevolent, Pugh’s phony paranormal investigator appears to start to experience real paranormal activity. This leads to scary thrills, some of which are comparable to some ofMidsommar’sscariest scenes.
The Fallingis actually better thanMalevolentin many ways, withMalevolentsuffering from some lazy writing and clichés in places. But it succeeds as a surprisingly effective genre movie, with Icelandic director Olaf de Fleur pulling out some interesting psychological horror tricks. Aster’s development ofthe cult and customs inMidsommarrely heavily on psychological horror as well, as trippy visuals blur the line between hallucination and reality.Malevolent’s creepy ghost story preys on Pugh’s characteras much as it preys on the audience’s minds,making everyone question what is really taking place.
Why Malevolent Is Worth Watching
Malevolent Shows Florence Pugh’s Progress
Malevolentgot mixed reviews and holds a 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is one of those movies that shows merit so specific to its genre, that it may well not appeal to everyone. A cult member wearsMark’s skin suit inMidsommar, demonstrating creative, violent, original gore the likes of which cult movies hadn’t seen.Malevolentmay be enjoyable for fans ofMidsommar, showing similar creativity with its violent episodes. As ghosts threaten to overwhelm Pugh’s Angela inMalevolent, she has increasingly aggressive visions in a haunted house. Unpleasant injuries haunt the shots in the movie as Pugh struggles to deal with them.
With mouths sewn shut, small children pitter-patter aroundMalevolent’s haunted house, exemplifying the irrepressible vengeance of the past and the challenge of keeping it separate from the present day. Some say thatMidsommaris one of the worst horror movies of 2019, unbelievably, but it proves that the pastiche ofMalevolentis often more widely understood than Aster’s stark originality.Malevolentlies in a strong tradition of haunted house movies and will please those who have been following this subgenre.Midsommar, meanwhile, is stranger fare and has less cinematic tradition to rely on.
Malevolent
Cast
Malevolent is a horror film centered around a sibling duo who deceive clients with fabricated paranormal experiences for money. Their business faces a supernatural challenge when they encounter genuine hauntings at a particular estate, forcing them to confront a reality beyond their previous encounters.
Midsommar
Ari Aster’s Midsommar follows a group of American college students who travel to a friend’s isolated rural hometown in Sweden to experience their renowned midsummer festival. What starts out as idyllic quickly becomes a disconcertingly violent pagan ritual, with the friends engaged in a ruthless competition that will test more than just their friendship. Florence Pugh stars alongside Jack Reynor, Will Poulter, and William Jackson Harper.
