“Malevolent” is a cosmic horror podcast created by Harlan Guthrie in 2020. The podcast was the runner-up for “Best Audio Drama or Fiction Podcast” in the 2021 Discover Pods Awards, losing to
“Old Gods of Appalachia.” Guthrie has worked as a voice actor, writer and producer on other projects, including “Magnus Protocols” and “Deviser.”
The plot follows Arthur Lester, a private investigator in the 1930s, who wakes up one day with no memory of what happened to him, why he can’t see or where the voice in his head came from. Over the course of the next few episodes, the Entity and Arthur try to figure out what happened to them, why they are connected and how they can be separated. However, this quest for answers becomes complicated with the police, monsters and cultists chasing after them.
This podcast is beautifully haunting, with the music and sound design making it feel as though listeners are joining the characters on their journey. It also helps build tension in scenes, making the monsters and cultists feel present and dangerous. Additionally, the characters are all well-developed and complex, which makes the audience invested in what happens to them.
Rating 10/10
