Malevolence (2004)

A wishy-washy 5/10, 6 May 2007

A mother and daughter, coming home from a softball game, decide to stop for ice cream. Their plans change when a bank robber on the run kidnaps them and forces the mother to drive him to an abandoned house his gang is using as a meeting place. What the would-be criminals don't know is that their hideout is just over the hill from an abandoned slaughterhouse that's home to a crazed, psychopathic killer. Guilty or innocent, it doesn't really matter to this hooded killer – he wants 'em all dead!

I've seen several reviews that use the word "derivative" when describing Malevolence. In fact, the director, Stevan Mena, uses it himself in one of the special features on the DVD. I cannot think of a better word. Malevolence is derivative of every slasher that came before it. There's very little originality in much of what's presented on screen. Take the music. I don't see how anyone could listen to Malevolence's soundtrack and not be immediately reminded of Halloween. Even the music cues are the same. I realize that when you're working with something as tired as a slasher, it's got to be hard to come up with a movie full of original ideas, but I'm not sure Mena even tried.

But I've got to give Mena and Malevolence credit for a few things. First, there's the plot. I do appreciate the fact that Mena tried to do something rather unique and shift gears about 30 minutes into the movie. On the DVD, he claims to have been inspired by Hitchcock's Psycho. Whatever, it was an interesting move on his part. Second, I really like the authentic locations Mena chose for Malevolence. There's nothing like a real, old, crumbling slaughterhouse as a setting for your slasher. The location does give the film some atmosphere and a very creepy look. Finally, I like the way Mena has us as an audience rooting for the bad guys. Mena manipulates the audience to actively cheer for the characters who are essentially the bad guys in the first act of the movie. Sure, bank robbers and kidnappers aren't the kind of people I want to invite over for dinner, but I'll take them over a mindless killer any day.

In the end, I can't really call Malevolence good, but I've certainly seen much worse. I appreciate some of the ideas Mena had for his film, but overall it lacks originality in its execution. However, I would be interested in seeing what Mena does next.

5/10