‘The experiment is real’
Malignant – working title: Black Butterflies – is a 2013 sci-fi horror film written and directed by Brian Avenet-Bradley (Free’z’er; Ghost of the Needle; Dark Remains). It stars Gary Cairns, horror icon Brad Dourif, Nick Nicotera and Sienna Farall.
Following a VOD outing, the film is being released on DVD in the US on February 17, 2015, courtesy of MVD Visual, that includes extras such as ‘Surgery for the Soul,’ an exclusive 38-minute documentary.
Plot teaser:
After the death of his wife, a grieving alcoholic (Gary Cairns) becomes the victim of a mad doctor (Brad Dourif) and his horrific twelve-step program to “cure” him…
Reviews:
“Unfortunately, the viewer would need to be as drunk as Cairns is for much of the film to miss the incongruity, implausibility, and inconsistency of the entire effort. A plan as elaborate as the one we are asked to believe would require an X-Files-esque government conspiracy, but we get a couple of guys working out of their garages, one of whom is Dourif. Maybe. The character allegedly being played by Dourif is seen from behind or in blurred focus or with a mask at least half the time he’s on screen. Then again, when we do see Dourif, his face looks like it’s been pumped with enough Botox for him to be a Real Housewife.” Meet Mr. Karma
“Brad Dourif steals the show in this one. He uses his voice, facial expressions, everything to execute a monstrous and slithery villain. Truly, he is of the Karloff/Lugosi/Carradine caliber—an old school ghoul of the highest degree … good, atmospheric camerawork, competent acting, grotesque, but sparing makeup effects, a creepy soundtrack. But because the screenplay neglects so much, Malignant comes off mediocre, and any suspense or emotional impact suffers for it.” Ross Peterson, HorrorNews.net
“Perhaps those more personally connected to themes of addiction struggles will find better reasons to engage with the metaphorical overtones. But above all else, “Malignant” is the partly quiet portrait of one man’s battle against grief through a realized nightmare scenario. And ultimately, the personalities providing the fulcrum are too weak to bear the weight of a moody character study burdened by this much underdeveloped psychological drama.” Culture Crypt
IMDb | Facebook | Info source: Fangoria
