I have not seen the first _Malevolence_. I watched this for one reason and one reason only: Alexandra Daddario. The movie was worth watching for her, alone.
Beyond that, this was a pretty boring horror movie that takes more than a few cues from _The Texas Chainsaw Massacre_. Which is funny, because Daddario would star in _Texas Chainsaw_ only three years later.
I really feel like there is a good movie in here somewhere. There is just so much story going on within, that it topples under its own weight. Were this a novel, I'd probably like it much more.
I am, however, more interested in seeing the first movie now, since I was missing parts of the mythology that would have made more sense, yet not enough to really make this any better.
Ultimately, the movie writes itself into a corner by making the characters more interesting than the overall plot. I wanted to know more about Allison, and William. So much time was given to them and their tragic family life, that I was sure it was going to pay off, but it was totally irrelevant. Maybe the director/writer should write an indie drama.
Anyway, a total must watch for fans of Alexandra. What an under-appreciated scream queen.