First look: Florence Pugh encounters a Malevolent spirit

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Three years ago, we shared the news that actress Sophie Cookson had signed on to the star in the genre project HUSH, to be directed by Olaf de Fleur Johannesson. Since then, there has been a bit of a shake-up, as Cookson didn't end up starring in the film, which is no longer titled HUSH.

That project is now going by the title MALEVOLENT. It wrapped filming and moved into post-production quite a while ago, and while there's still no word on what sort of release it may get, sales agent Embankment Films has put out a "first look" image of star Florence Pugh in the film, filling the role that had once belonged to Cookson. 

That's the image above, in which Pugh is taking part in the popular horror movie activity of walking around in a dark house with a flashlight.

Based on a novella by E.M. Blomqvist (a.k.a. Eva Konstantopoulos) and written by Ben Ketai (30 DAYS OF NIGHT: DARK DAYS, THE FOREST, the upcoming THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT), MALEVOLENT has the following synopsis:

The dead will not be silenced.

Siblings Jackson and Angela run a profitable ghostbusting racket; swindling the bereaved with fake detection equipment and Angela’s paranormal ‘visions’. Hired by Mrs Green to investigate a haunted old foster home, the team uncover its terrifying past: young girls brutally slaughtered, mouths stitched shut; silenced by a sadistic killer.

And Angela’s on the edge – sleepless, strung out and losing her mind, no longer certain what’s actually real; convinced she hears the girls crying out to her from the darkness. But supernatural terrors are the least of their problems when they discover the very real evil lurking in the isolated house…

Pugh's co-stars include Celia Imrie, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Scott Chambers, and Georgina Bevan. The film was produced by Brian Coffey and Danny Sherman.

As soon as MALEVOLENT gets a release date, we'll let you know.