88. MALUM (2023) dir. Anthony DiBlasi

MALUM sees director Anthony DiBlasi reimagining his 2014 film LAST SHIFT, where a rookie cop undergoes some supernatural hazing on her first night in a decommissioned police station. Almost a decade later, DiBlasi, with the backing of Welcome Villain Films, expands on the story, introducing more lore and gore to wonderfully deranged effect, sending this claustrophobic thriller into a surreal excursion through demonic realms.When Jessica Loren (Jessica Sula) volunteers to work her first shift at a decommissioned police station, infamously the place where her hero cop father Will (Eric Olson) gunned down his fellow officers, she reveals secrets regarding his last case: a rescue of teenage girls from a murderous cult. Let's just say the cult isn't too happy. Let's also just say that they know where Jessica works.This movie's a stellar one-location chiller. It's a haunted house featuring gnarly special effects, anchored by a lead who tries to remain poised despite the barrage of murderers and demonic shit flying her way. DiBlasi confidently moves his camera through the narrowest corridors, lighting our journey with, often, nothing but a flashlight and a prayer. The tension builds and the secrets unfurl at just the right pace to a fantastically fucked conclusion. This is 93/7% grade horror, lean and mean, but not without its cheeky winks to camera. I dig this.---------------------------Review THE MOVIES on Apple Podcasts & I'll read it on the next episode!Follow The Movies on ⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠& ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠Financially support the podcast via the ⁠⁠tip jar!