Discover the Hidden Gem: Florence Pugh Stars in This Must-See Horror at Home!

It sometimes seems as though Florence Pugh burst onto the scene as a fully-fledged movie star. One moment, she was garnering some attention for her performances in indie films at festivals; the next, she was headlining major productions and elegantly walking red carpets in high-end fashion. Now, with the release of Marvel’s Thunderbolts, Pugh further cements her status as one of her generation’s most accomplished actors.

For those who have been following her journey, Pugh’s ascent to A-list stardom is impressive and hard-earned. Before her breakout role in the cult horror film Midsommar—which opened doors for her in projects like Little Women and several entries in the MCU—she navigated the industry with a number of lesser-known films. One standout among these is Malevolent, a haunting Netflix original that made a quiet debut in 2018 but deserves a second look as Pugh takes center stage in the Marvel universe this weekend.

In Malevolent, Pugh stars as Angela, a member of a team of fraudulent ghost hunters who find their hustle disrupted when they are drawn to a genuinely haunted location. While their trickery relies heavily on technology, Angela seems to possess genuine, albeit untapped, psychic abilities. Director Olaf de Fleur introduces these powers early on, showcasing the world through Angela’s perspective as she encounters moving objects and spectral figures lurking in the shadows, setting the stage for a series of effective jump scares.

Pugh’s performance is marked by a surprising coolness, even as the horror intensifies in the film’s climax. Her portrayal carries a remarkable stoicism; she remains calm and composed, with a subtle sadness simmering beneath the surface. Rather than indulging in screams, she responds to terrifying moments with mere gasps, particularly during encounters with the film’s grotesque apparitions.

This understated acting style has become a hallmark of Pugh’s career. Similar nuances can be seen in her roles in Midsommar and Dune: Part Two, where she’s adept at conveying complex emotions through brief dialogue and evocative glances. Such talent is evident in Malevolent, where Pugh communicates more through her expressions than most actors do with lengthy monologues. During the film’s rare moments of joy, the camera often lingers on her smile just a beat too long, revealing the underlying sorrow that follows.

This stylistic choice resembles de Fleur’s approach, as he tends to hold shots for an extra second or two, creating an atmosphere of unbroken dread throughout the film. He also executes some striking scenes, such as a chilling opening where the audience sees through the eyes of a young girl waiting for a group to contact her deceased mother. The adults’ faces remain obscured until they crouch down to address her directly, heightening the sense of suspense.

There are numerous aspects to admire about Malevolent—from its eerie synth soundtrack that avoids sounding like a Stranger Things knockoff to the genuinely horrifying practical effects. However, it falls short of perfection, as not all characters receive enough development for their fates to impact the audience meaningfully. Furthermore, the hectic climax