In a rare turn of events, director/co-writer Anthony DiBlasi gives a new update to his own 2014 horror film Last Shift with Malum. DiBlasi reunites with Last Shift co-writer Scott Poiley, creating an expanded story that strengthens the original narrative and offers even bloodier occult mayhem. DiBlasi’s Malum serves as a perfect introduction to his twisted demonic realm while supporting his original film as a fascinating companion piece.

Rookie cop Jessica Loren (Jessica Sula, Split) requests the last shift in a decommissioned police station where a notoriously vicious cult saw their demise years prior. Loren hopes to use the solitude to her advantage as she searches the empty building for answers about her father’s strange death. What should be a simple, quiet evening becomes anything but when the cult members seem to reach out from beyond the grave, plaguing the officer with harrowing visions and torment in attempts to finish what they started.

Loren will learn horrors beyond her family’s entanglements with the Malum cult.

A disarming vulnerability to Sula’s Jessica Loren instills rooting interest straightaway. The officer carries herself like a rookie that’s still finding her footing. Still, the family ties and desire to understand her father’s final moments ensure we’re invested in her survival. Part of that is owed to DiBlasi and Poiley’s more robust storytelling, giving their protagonist more plausible means for winding up in such a dementedly haunted place. However, much of it belongs to Sula’s performance, who carries this increasingly gory ride on her shoulders with poignancy, charm, and fortitude. Malum takes care to deliver a more well-rounded heroine.

The cult also gets expanded here, along with its victims. It’s this aspect that provides the most prominent departure; cult leader John Malum (Chaney Morrow) and his Flock of the Low God undergo a considerable expansion of mythology, complete with a more extensive history and demonic lore. Flock member Dorothea (Clarke Wolfe) stands out among them as the most ruthless and chilling; her withering icy stare alone makes for a successful villainess.

But the biggest scene-stealer in Malum belongs to the special makeup effects and grisly deaths brought to life by Russell FX. The hellish designs of the cult’s denizens are fantastic, especially as the film builds to a satisfying climactic confrontation. Gore hounds will also find themselves satiated by the extreme bloodletting the more Jessica Loren’s last shift barrels toward dawn. Malum presents a more robust cast, which means a higher and grislier body count that brings the pain and viscera in equal measure.

The downside to the expanded narrative, however, is that the scares don’t hit quite as hard as they did in Last Shift. The barebones plot of Last Shift meant the scare crafting did the heavy lifting and successfully induced chills. Malum doesn’t skimp on the scares, though they’re frequently crowded out by the storytelling choices that give DiBlasi’s latest a more complete feel. Some editing decisions can also distract, like a final lingering shot that stretches just a smidge too long.

Overall, DiBlasi makes excellent use of this rare remake opportunity. Malum is an imaginative, unsettling reimagining that builds upon the skeleton of Last Shift to create an entertaining and oft-thrilling new entry in demonic horror. The new mythology, more impressive set pieces, and gnarly practical effects impress. Infectious performances ground it. While it may not reach the bone-chilling highs of Last Shift, its commitment to introducing an even more menacing entity and its nefarious worshippers ensures a haunting night at a police station worth booking.

Malum releases in theaters on March 31, 2023.