Malicious (2018)

Malicious is the kind of sleek, late-night horror-thriller that works because it takes a familiar fear—your home turning on you—and gives it sharp teeth and a steady sense of escalation. Michael Winnick keeps the pace tight and the mood clammy, letting dread seep in between the jump scares, while Bojana Novaković and Josh Stewart sell the strain of impending parenthood with just enough rawness to make the supernatural threat feel personal. Delroy Lindo brings a welcome gravitas that grounds the film when it could’ve drifted into pure gimmick, and the result is a brisk, watchable ride that knows how to push your nerves without drowning you in gore. If you want subtle, slow-burn art horror, this may feel a little direct and pulpy—but if you’re in the mood for an efficient, crowd-pleasing scare with a nasty streak, it delivers.

Malicious wants to be a slick, modern haunted-couple thriller, mixing pregnancy anxiety with a “we unleashed something” supernatural hook and a steady drip of jump scares. The problem is it often feels like scenes are stitched together without a strong through-line, so tension comes more from abrupt jolts than a story that naturally tightens the screws. There are a few watchable elements—solidly committed performances and some creepy imagery—but it’s hard to stay invested when the narrative momentum keeps slipping. If you need horror to be coherent and character-driven, you’ll likely be frustrated; if you’re fine with a disposable, mid-budget spook ride with moderate sexual content and mild gore, it may do the job for one night.