Malum Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Cop’s daughter takes night shift at haunted police station to understand why her dad went crazy, but mostly just gets jump-scared by demons and bad decisions.

🍿 Malum: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Burden of Legacy

The film opens with Officer Will Loren celebrated for rescuing women from the clutches of a satanic cult led by John Michael Malum. However, this victory is short-lived as Will inexplicably descends into madness, committing a horrific murder-suicide within the police station. A year later, his daughter, Jessica, now a rookie cop, requests the final shift at the same decommissioned station, driven by a desire to understand her father’s actions and the darkness that consumed him. Jessica’s first day is fraught with tension. She faces hostility from fellow officers and disturbing encounters that hint at the sinister forces still lingering within the station. Driven by the need to know more, Jessica’s actions set the stage for a night of unrelenting terror as she seeks answers about her father’s past and his connection to the malevolent cult.

A Descent into Darkness

As Jessica begins her shift, the station reveals its secrets, with cryptic clues and unsettling occurrences. A pig marked with a demonic symbol appears, a homeless man breaks into the station spouting cryptic warnings, and unsettling phone calls torment Jessica, drawing her deeper into the mystery of her father’s demise. The secrets of the cult begin to unfold, with unsettling interrogation footage revealing details of past rituals, and the unsettling ties to the station. The true horror begins to manifest when the line between reality and nightmare begins to blur. Jessica experiences vivid hallucinations, encounters ghostly figures, and uncovers disturbing truths about her family’s connection to the cult. The unsettling atmosphere of the station intensifies, as the terrors escalate and Jessica finds herself trapped in a nightmarish battle for survival.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jessica Loren (Jessica Sula): A rookie police officer who takes the last shift at a decommissioned police station to uncover the truth about her father’s death and his connection to a vicious cult.
• John Malum (Chaney Morrow): The demonic leader of a vicious cult who returns from the dead to torment Jessica and continue his dark rituals.
• Diane (Candice Coke): Jessica’s estranged and alcoholic mother who was once a member of Malum’s cult and holds secrets about Jessica’s past.
• Will Loren (Eric Olson): Jessica’s father, a former police officer who went on a killing spree before committing suicide, haunted by his encounter with Malum’s cult.
• Officer Grip Cohen (Britt George): An abrasive police officer who is initially dismissive of Jessica and her family history.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Marigold: “They hanged themselves in the holding area.” – Marigold recounts a different story about Malum’s death, claiming he hanged himself with his followers.
• Officer Price: “Malum was somehow still there even though he died.” – Officer Price explains that Jessica’s father warned everyone to avoid the holding area because Malum was still there.
• Diane: “Malum promised Jessica would be a crucial part of a bigger plan.” – Diane reveals that Malum told her that Jessica will play an important part in the future plans of the cult.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $500,000 (estimated)
• Domestic Gross: $221,738
• Worldwide Gross: $704,776

💥 Malum Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this expecting jump scares, and I got them – lots of them. There were some genuinely creepy moments. I did find myself wishing they’d stuck closer to the original’s simplicity, but overall, if you’re looking for a popcorn-munching, scream-at-the-screen kinda night, ‘Malum’ does the trick! The whole cult thing was kinda cool. The pig head scene got me good!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of supernatural horror”
  • “Viewers who enjoy cult-themed stories”
  • “Those who appreciate gory practical effects”
  • “Horror fans who like a blend of psychological and visceral scares”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense violence and gore”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Suicide”
  • “Cult themes”
  • “Occult references”
  • “Strong language”

Professional Reviews

• MovieWeb: “Malum amplifies the scares and gore of ‘Last Shift’, providing a more intense experience. While some narrative additions feel unnecessary, fans of the original will appreciate the heightened atmosphere of dread.
• Cinema Blind: “While ‘Malum’ boasts improved production values, it fails to capture the subtle creepiness of ‘Last Shift’. The added backstory detracts from what made the original so effective: its eerie simplicity.
• Horror Central: “A gore-filled reimagining that delivers relentless scares. ‘Malum’ leans heavily into its cult horror elements, making for a visually disturbing and satisfying experience for genre fans.

Audience Reactions

The practical effects were absolutely bonkers!: Many viewers praised the effective practical effects, which added a visceral edge to the horror.

Intense and creepy, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!: Audiences widely appreciated the film’s suspenseful atmosphere and relentless tension.

Overall Consensus: Malum delivers a more intense and gory experience compared to Last Shift, but its narrative additions and reliance on jump scares divide viewers. Recommended for those seeking pure horror thrills, but fans of the original might find it lacking in subtlety.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Malum is a reimagining of director Anthony DiBlasi’s 2014 film, Last Shift.”
• “The film uses practical effects extensively to enhance the horror elements.”
• “Samuel Laflamme, known for his work on the Outlast video games, composed the film’s musical score.”

🖥️ How to Watch Malum?

As of October 2024, ‘Malum’ is available for streaming rental or purchase on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies. Check these platforms for current availability and pricing, as options may change. Subscription services do not currently offer this film for free streaming.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Malum, you might like these similar films:

• Last Shift (2014): This is the original film that ‘Malum’ reimagines, sharing the same core plot and director.
• Prince of Darkness (1987): Features a group trapped in a location besieged by supernatural forces and explores themes of ancient evil and demonic entities.
• Assault on Precinct 13 (1976): A lone police precinct is under siege by relentless forces, creating a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere.
• The Void (2016): Features a group trapped in a hospital besieged by cultists and otherworldly creatures, with a heavy emphasis on practical effects and body horror.

🛒 Malum Related Products

• Last Shift [Blu-ray]: The original film that inspired ‘Malum’. Experience the minimalist horror that started it all.
• Cult Horror Movie Poster Pack (Set of 4): A set of posters featuring iconic cult horror films, perfect for decorating a home theater.
• Welcome to Welcome Villain: Horror Movie Collection: Get early access to Welcome Villain films and other related content.
• John Michael Malum Action Figure: A highly detailed action figure of the cult leader John Michael Malum, complete with ritualistic accessories.

🎧 Soundtrack

Malum features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Malum Theme” – performed by Samuel Laflamme
• “Cult Chant” – performed by Macedonia Alexis

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Most Disappointing Horror Movies of 2023 RANT! | Spookyastronauts

Ever felt let down by a horror movie? This video dives into some of the biggest disappointments of 2023, including ‘Malum’. See if you agree with their assessment – I found their points about the plot particularly interesting!

A horror movie SO MUCH scarier than I expected… Malum #shorts

Want a quick take on how scary ‘Malum’ is? This short review gets right to the point, revealing just how much this person was affected by the movie. I would recommend this to anyone who is still unsure about watching!

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