IMDb 7.1 1986 HD

Malcolm

Malcolm

1986
Action Comedy Crime
90 min PG-13 Australia
6.466 / 10
7.1 IMDB

Malcolm is a chronically shy mechanical genius, who has just been fired for building his own tram. He gets Frank, who has just been released from jail, to…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Nadia Tass / Tony Mahood / Karinda Parkinson / Paul Grinder / Derek Watkins
Starring
Colin Friels / Lindy Davies / Chris Haywood / John Hargreaves / Beverley Phillips / Judith Stratford / Heather Mitchell / Charles Tingwell

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

quirky inventive charming offbeat intriguing unique curious entertaining original memorable unconventional peculiar

Reviews

V
Vivienne Clarke
May 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A wonderfully original Australian film, Malcolm stands out for its sheer audacity and charm. Colin Friels is pitch-perfect as the introverted inventor whose skills are repurposed for a life of crime. The film’s strength lies in its unwavering…

R
Reginald Finch
May 20, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Malcolm presents a curious case study in applied engineering. Colin Friels navigates the role of a technically brilliant but socially withdrawn individual with commendable skill. The film’s descent into criminal activity, facilitated by an ex-convict, is handled with…

B
Beatrice Moreau
May 20, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Malcolm is a triumph of inventive storytelling and characterisation. Colin Friels is simply superb as the shy mechanical prodigy thrust into a life of crime. The film's genius lies in its ability to make the absurd feel utterly…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 20, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This 1986 feature offers an intriguing proposition: what happens when a shy inventor’s genius is channelled into crime? Colin Friels delivers a nuanced performance as Malcolm, a character whose technical prowess is matched only by his social awkwardness.…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Malcolm is a delightfully peculiar gem from the Australian cinematic landscape. Colin Friels embodies the titular character with a captivating blend of shy intellect and burgeoning roguishness. The film's central premise, a mechanical genius turned reluctant criminal, is…

FAQs

Frank's presence is instrumental in Malcolm's transition to a life of crime. As a character recently released from jail, Frank brings a pragmatic, albeit criminal, perspective into Malcolm's sheltered world. His involvement seems to provide the impetus and perhaps the practical guidance for Malcolm to apply his mechanical genius to illegal pursuits, shifting the focus from purely inventive endeavours to financially motivated illicit schemes.