MALEVOLENT

UK, 2018, 89 minutes, Colour.
Florence Pugh, Ben Lloyd- Hughes, Scott Chambers, Georgina Bevan, Celia Imrie, James Cosmo.
Directed by Olaf De Fleur.

A strong title for this film. And it can have several meanings.

The focus is on a group of young men and women from Glasgow, their setting up a fraudulent company, advertising to rid buildings of ghosts. The older brother, Jackson, Ben Lloyd- Hughes, is the brains behind the scheme and its advertising and promotion. His younger sister, Angela, Florence Pugh, is alleged to have powers to do the exorcising of the buildings. Her friend Elliott, Scott Chambers, is the cameraman because everything is filmed and the client is able to see the process on screen. Beth, Georgina Bevan, is Jackson’s girlfriend. They are seen going through the routines, setting up the equipment, Angela doing her thing, Elliott following in filming. Angela, however, is in two minds about proceeding, her nose bleeding in situations which suggest something more supernatural. She consults her elderly grandfather, James Cosmo in a cameo role. She also gets advice from the professor at school.

The main part of the film focuses on a new client, Mrs Green, a strong performance from Celia Imrie. She answers an advertisement, invites the group to her house, explains the situation with some young girls present in the house, her hearing their cries. She herself had a son who is accused of harming the girls. The squad arrive, Mrs Green is not taken in by Jackson’s spiel. But, as the proceedings continue, as she watches on the screen, Angela ventures into other rooms and opens doors, as a sense of the presence of the girls, starts to see them, her nose bleeding. Then Elliott falls through the rotting floor in the corridor, injuring himself as he falls to the basement. Beth is discovered attacked and mutilated.

The film then moves more into the touch of Grand Guignol. Mrs Green proves to be more sinister than anticipated, with the presence of her son, capturing the group, torturing them. There is something of an upbeat ending – at least for Angela and Elliott, and with the ghostly presence of Jackson.

Olaf de Fleur is an Icelandic director.

1. The title? The tone? Bad will and malice?

2. The Scottish setting, Glasgow, homes, the venues for the elimination of the ghosts, the mansions and grounds, eerie interiors, the school, the attic, the basement? The countryside? The musical score?

3. The malevolence of the group, committing fraud, greed? The malevolence of the ghosts? Malevolence of Mrs Green? Her son? The young girls? Mrs Green and her ultimate malevolence and cruelty?

4. The introduction to the group, Jackson and Angela, brother and sister, the story of their mother, her suicide, her eyes, her reappearing? Angela visiting her grandfather, benign, Jackson owing him £500?

5. Angela, at school, the professor and her advice, offer of help? Jackson his plans? Asserting Angela’s powers? His smooth behaviour with clients? The advertising? Elliott and his friendship with Angela, cameraman? Beth and her presence? Relationship with Jackson?

6. The first episode, the group arriving, the setup, the filming, Angela and her routines? Indications that she might have more powers? Her nightmares about her mother? Situations and her nose bleeding? Her willingness, an unwillingness to collaborate? Her devotion to Jackson?

7. The response to the flyer? Mrs Green? Her explanation of the situation, her son, the house, the girls, the haunting, their cries, her wanting to be rid of them? Her observation of the process and the setting up? Jackson and his smooth-talk and her rejection of it? Angela, going through the house, Elliot following her, filming? Mrs Green watching? Angela going into different rooms, opening doors? Becoming more sinister? Angela and her sense of presence? Appearances of the girls? Elliott falling through the floor? Their having to rescue him, climbing up the ladder? Continued appearances?

8. Jackson, trying to deal with the situation, wanting to call it off? Mrs Green and her harsh reaction?

9. Elliott, his injuries, Angela and her head injuries, finding Beth and the mutilation? Getting in the car, driving? The man on the road, the hit run, the crash? Beth through the windscreen? Jackson’s reaction?

10. Angela, going back into the house? The son and his appearance, taking Jackson, beating Elliott?

11. In the house, Jackson tied up, Mrs Green and her taunts, her son, the touch of torture? Mrs Green and her angers, her motivation, her violence? Bringing in Elliott, tying him up, her battering his legs? Angela, tied up, Mrs Green beginning to sew her lips?

12. Getting free, the rescue, Elliot and Angela? Jackson, his death? Angela seeing his ghost on the road?

13. The hospital, recovery, the future for Elliott and Angela? And the sense of presence of Jackson’s ghost?