Is ‘Malignant’ Inspired by a True Story?

Warning: This article contains major Malignant spoilers. Read at your own risk!

When you check out James Wan‘s new film Malignant on HBO Max or in theaters, you may think you know what you’ve signed up for. Think again. The story starts off simply enough: We open on a terrifyingly powerful child named Gabriel escaping a secret research facility, before catching up with protagonist Madison (Annabelle Wallis), whose abusive husband is killed by a mysterious intruder after threatening his then-pregnant wife.

After spending much of the movie struck by visions of grisly murders that are simultaneously happening in real life, Malignant‘s third act reveals a truly wild twist. When Madison was a little girl, she had a teratoma, or “parasitic twin” — aka Gabriel — who grotesquely protruded from her back and depended on her body to live.

Gabriel was able to make Madison see what he wanted to see to disastrous results, until she broke free. But when he’s awoken at the beginning of the movie and begins popping out of Madison’s head, all hell breaks loose and she’s forced to stop him from going on another killing spree.

If you’re wondering if this wild premise is based on reality, we’ve got you covered.

Is Malignant based on a true story?

Thankfully, no! After working on iconic modern horror films like The Conjuring, Insidious, and Saw, Wan told Slash Film that the film’s premise came out of his desire to find ways to reinvent himself within the genre.

“I knew I wanted to play with people’s perception of me,” he added.

Are the parasitic twins from Malignant real?

When it comes to the actual science of Malignant, things get a little more complicated.

According to the National Cancer Institute, a teratoma is “a type of germ cell tumor that may contain several different types of tissue, such as hair, muscle, and bone.” They commonly develop in ovaries, testicles, and children’s tailbones.

While they’re not as common in kids, they do happen. However, teratomas aren’t the same thing as parasitic twins, in which one twin stops developing in the womb. The parasitic twin then attaches itself to the fully developing twin for sustenance. Without further treatment, Healthline says the fully developed twin can develop extra limbs or protrusions as a result of supporting the other. Don’t expect another person to pop out of their back, though.

Is Malignant based on a book?

Nope. Malignant is an original story by Wan.

Is Malignant on HBO Max? Where to watch the 2021 film Malignant:

Yep! Malignant premiered on HBO Max on Friday, September 10. The film will stream for 31 days before it leaves the service, as part of the streamer’s collaboration with Warner Bros.

Is there a trailer for Malignant?

There sure is! You can watch it by scrolling up to the video above.

Read our full review of Malignant.

Where to watch Malignant