The voice acting in this show is pretty spectacular. All the voice acting is done by one man with a phenomenal range. It’s definitely a little clunky in season one, but it vastly improves overtime. The plot isn’t the best. A lot of story beats just sort of happen with no real lead up or follow through. Arthur gets tortured/hurt without any real reason. Loose ends are explained away by an all knowing god rather than being shown to the audience. The entity and Arthur flip from being on the same side to arguing every other conversation. At a certain point it’s just annoying. There are also NO WOMEN. In almost fifty episodes there have only been six female characters. Two were involved in putting the entity in the book, but they never show up in the podcast. They are only talked about. One is a hag. One is an eldritch being who only speaks in monster form and not in sexy women form (because god forbid the sexy women keep her monster voice). Another woman has her mouth sewn shut so she can’t speak. The only woman I felt was properly done was an older lady in season 4. As I mentioned, the voice acting is all done by one man, so I get that there are limitations. But I don’t think the illusion would at all be broken if a fem. voice actor came in to do the women. I think having more women characters would have greatly improved the story. We wouldn’t have to be scrapping the bottom of the barrel to decide what man will show up.

What an amazing podcast. I believe all voices are 1 guy, and he's doing incredible work. This story is highly imaginative, executed flawlessly, and has so many minute details, it's just insane. This podcast takes me to another place, right inside this "dream" the storyteller puts us in. I am so incredibly happy with this show. You must listen for a few episodes if you're a beginner. Give it a moment to let the story weave into your brain. I assure you, you will like this podcast but you must pay attention!

This is amazing. I love these more linear horror fiction podcasts. Sure, the occasional Welcome to Night Vale or Camp Here and Here is fun, but it’s not my jam as much as things like this. They are equal amounts as valuable, but I haven’t been this invested in a podcast since I listened to The Magnus Archives a few months back. I love the soundtrack too. It’s beautiful.

The story telling the way that this podcast is produced is amazing, I’ve never experience an audio experience like this. With such amazing sfx. I feel like I’m in the story.

Interesting premise, but it quickly devolves into a meandering narrative that has no discernible direction. Are the plot points being determined by chance? I swear I hear someone rolling dice or tossing I Ching sticks in the background. Not good storytelling.

Definitely an incredible feat of voice acting and storytelling. If you like Harlan’s work then you’ll probably enjoy (suffer through the gruesome world of,) Divisor. There are some gripes I have with distinguishing voices but the characters they are supposed to represent are so vibrant in personality and tone that most of the time the problem doesn’t come up. I think we can all agree that Harlan’s commitment to the bit is incredibly impressive and that most of the time, all you really need is a good voice actor and a decent microphone to tell a compelling story.

I love love love this podcast. I have listened to it multiple times. I love the characters and the character development and interactions are very smart. The voice acting and the plot has me hooked and somehow at the end of every season I feel fulfilled but also needing to know what next? Also It has me feeling so many feels, to the point my husband (who now listens to it as well) knows when I say I am binging the newest season he expects to find me randomly sobbing throughout my listen. Anyways just listen to it!

God bless Harlan Guthrie. Such a multi-talented, ingenious dude.

Hands down one of my favorite shows (and I've listened to A LOT over the years). It has become my comfort show that I relisten to periodically. I find myself nostalgic for the little things it started out with, like hearing the actual dice rolls, but it's not a negative feeling. I whole-heartedly love this show and feel like a proud family member watching both it and Harlan grow. Well done, sir. (P.S. the audacity of you to make me suddenly realize that I slowly started to care about an Irish hitman...I'm not mad).

This is the best podcast and Im not just saying that because a malevolent entity in my head is threatening me

This podcast has been an interesting ride. I gave up multiple times but after season 2 I was hooked.

OML this is the best podcast I’ve listened to, and I only randomly found it one day! Haven’t finished what’s been made so far yet, but it’s amazing!!

The first episode takes some time to get used to if, like me, you found this podcast because of the the magnus archives, but well worth it as the characters are great and the chemistry is stellar

This is absolutely amazing! Harlan is an amazing voice actor and writer! The plot and character development is phenomenal. I can’t wait for the next episode to come out!

Not a single thing anyone can say about this story except that it’s truly one of the best to have ever been written and released. So sad to know it’s coming to an end but all good things must end and it’s in need of an ending, even though it seems like it could easily continue on forever and I’d happily listen.

This is really good!

Quite literally the greatest podcast ive ever seen

The pacing, soundscaping, character arcs, and humor make this truly one of the greats and I keep recommending this to everyone. The fact that it’s a (mostly) one man show is even more impressive although it stands on its own merit. The highs and lows and mistakes and bad judgment makes all the characters so very…. Human, ironically.

this podcast very quickly became one of my favorites that I listen to. I love a good Lovecraft mythos media and this does not disappoint! the story is amazing and the voice acting is EXCEPTIONAL. I have 100% cried a few times bc of how well the characters are done. 100% listen to this podcast if you’re a horror fan!!

I literally can’t find a better podcast this is the top of the mountain

This podcast is the best podcast!! The voice acting and sound effects is awesome, but the sound plot is even better! Just do yourself a favor and listen to this podcast.

Wow….. Never been drawn into characters so quickly. Well done. Well done!

Man oh man. What a highly impressive feat of engineering. I’m beyond impressed. This story absolutely rocks. I got my best friend listening and he also loves it. It’s funny and scary and gross and endearing and just so so so cool. I don’t know how Harlan accomplishes so much with so little. LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST.

I listened to all 5 season and all I can hope for is 5 more season. To be honest this would even be a great tv show or series of movies. Please don’t let it end here.

This is the best podcast out there hands down. Superbly executed by ONE person.

it’s amazing!! i’m on season 4, up to season 4 it’s been amazing, most of season 4 has been slower but still great (the reason it has 4 stars rather than 5, i’d have done 4.5 if i could :D) all of my issues with this season are definitely just personal writing preferences (i preferred the higher energy season 1 over the fluffier in between sections of season 4) i love john and arthur, they’re grand. i really like their dynamic!! the writing (aside from overused action dialogue) is really good!! most of my issues are just personal nit-picks and such and it’s still a great podcast despite!! i really recommend!! :D

an instant favorite, malevolent had me hooked from the first episode and has not put me down since! i am subscribed to the patreon now :D genuinely some of the best work i've ever seen out of podcasting, and the fact that it is a one-man cast and crew FLOORS me (if you didnt know, look it up, it's so impressive) hands down my favorite piece of media i've taken in in any format in years. there's absolutely nothing like it.

Update I binged every episode and now wait 1 1/2 months waiting for the next episode. It just gets better and better. Never slow never boring and keeps imagination going. I have listened to almost every audio drama on Apple podcast and Apple should sponsor this. The storyline is well written. The actors portray their characters amazingly. Malevolent is full of suspense, a tear jerker, and your imagination travels to places you never thought imaginable. This podcast keeps you on your toes and wanting more! I

This is just incredible, if you like cosmic horror and the universe of HP Lovecraft you will love this! This story has the most creative mode of story telling, it’s detailed, fascinating, suspenseful, everything that makes a great story. I’m almost done with season 3, I put it on every possible chance I get.

you should listen

This is, perhaps, the best fiction podcast ever made. I was looking for a dark production to scratch that itch, which wasn’t cheesy, something smart, without cheap scares written for kids. This show delivers in spades, with a solid, original conceit, and a really fantastic vocal performance. If LitRPG is a thing, this might best be described as a PodRPG? It succeeds far better than that. The sound design fades in and out when it needs to be more expansive, and shrinks when it needs to feel more intimate. It has its moments of truly terrifying suspense, the supernatural, dread, and an adroitly handled sense of cosmic dread, which few get so right. If you’re looking for your Eldritch horrors, your Lovecraftian tales, then this is what you’ve been looking for. Just push “play.”

Loved this podcast! Started listening to it when there was only 32 episodes and finished the entire thing in three days! The podcast has made my cry so many times in the best way possible thank you!

Amazing podcast! You will be hooked from the first eqisode

I listened to the first episode of Malevolent on April 5 2024. I cannot accurately express how shocked and disappointed I felt on January 23 2025 when I realized I had fully caught up. A dark void opened. I had listened to every episode and now I have to wait for the next release. Malevolent has dethroned all of my other favorite podcasts. Harlan Guthrie is so insanely and suspiciously talented. I am immensely concerned there will only be five and a half years left for new episodes as I have come to the conclusion that the only possible explanation for his genius is that he made a deal with a crossroads demon.

A masterpiece of horror and hope. Not only are the characters fascinating and incredibly complex, but the plot keeps twisting and turning as they journey on. The music, and the poetry, and the soundscapes immerse you in this world and tug at your heartstrings. I never thought a podcast could make me feel so deeply; I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong.

Listen. *Listen.* I do not often leave reviews for anything, so when I do, it’s because something has either *really* disappointed me, or it has shown itself to be spectacular. MALEVOLENT IS SPECTACULAR. I liked the concept enough to try, found it enjoyable enough to continue because of the deft execution, and…it just kept getting better! The characters are so engaging that I loved them by the end of season one. By the end of season two I was genuinely moved to tears and had to stay up late to start listening to season three because I couldn’t wait. And at the beginning of episode 29, I screamed out loud and came to review immediately! This show is MAGNIFICENTLY well-written, which is especially impressive with the elements of randomness in its creation. It’s not *perfect* - some facets occasionally seem a bit arbitrary- but the writing and acting are so good that even those infrequent bits that lag are enjoyable. That’s quite a feat! In addition to that excellence, the music is *brilliant*. And there’s very well-executed suspense and horror (complete with remarkably well done, I.e. disgusting, sound effects). I was not prepared for such a delightful experience. I’m so glad that I gave this show a try! For once, I can wholeheartedly recommend a podcast - even if the show tanks after ep. 29 (which I think is very unlikely), I’m recommending it based on 29 episodes that have captured my attention as little else has. The *only* drawback for me is that there’s a good bit of swearing, but there’s nothing inappropriate about that for a horror podcast. Don’t forget that it’s rated R and play it without headphones while doing dishes when your family is home like I did. *LoL*

I definitely love this audio drama. My only problem with it, is that it repeats so much. They figure something out and 1 ep later they are in the same the problem just different setting. I really just ended up getting bored with it. It’s a story that repeats itself over the period of 5 seasons.

How had I never heard of this podcast before?? After finishing The Black Tapes and Magnus Archives, I was despairing about the lack of good horror podcasts. This is easily one of the best I’ve ever listened to. Thrilling, suspenseful, with great writing, fantastic voice actors, and incredible sound effects. A must-listen for anyone who’s into the Cthulhu mythos and/or cosmic horror.

10/10 Unfortunately, nothing comes close. You’ll be listening to this podcast series over, and over, and over as nothing compares

I cried more times than I could count 10/10

i don’t think i can quite put into words how much i love this podcast, it’s one out of my two favorite podcasts

Absolutely amazing I loved every minute of each episode. This is one of the best audio visuals I’ve ever experienced in my life. 5 stars automatically……..

Netflix soon???

The concept of having someone be blind and be narrated the world around them is such a unique spin on the “podcast” format. Furthermore the themes of grief, love, loss and guilt explored in the podcast are done so with a deft hand. The soundtrack is also wonderfully composed to really make the story shine. After Magnus Archives, this is the only other podcast that has me hooked and anticipating each episode.

This podcast hits every single chord. Horror, comedy, love but in a non romantic way making it more symbolic, action, adventure, drama, suspense. It is able to tell the story without actual narration and uses just dialogue and tremendous sound effects. Every episode leaves me wanting more and none disappoint. The voice acting is top notch and has more emotion than any other podcast Ive listened too, and thats coming from someone whos an avid Magnus Archives and Welcome to Nightvale fan. If you dont listen to this or bail after a few episodes you are doing yourself a huge disservice. All in all, contrary to other long running podcasts, this one only gets better and continues to expand in world-building. Currently waiting on Chapter 49 and it can’t come soon enough

I cant wait for the next episode 10/10

So, I adore this show. I travel full time with a theater company and it’s gotten me through some LONG drives. The format reminds me of the old Infocom text adventures or a choose your own adventure where someone else is doing the choosing. The main character’s lack of eyesight is a brilliant narrative structure, which makes the podcast more illustrative than a lot of other entries in the genre. The main character is a bit maddeningly stubborn occasionally but it DOES serve the story if you hang in with it. Very glad I found this! Can’t wait to keep listening.

Well written and acted. Pacing is excellent

Warning this podcast will ruin all other podcast after listening. I have not been able to find anything in the last year that even comes close this! So I have resorted to just listening over and over and over again, it never gets old!

John! I wish I could go back to when I first stumbled upon this show. It’s so beautifully done and this recent season is amazing. Yorick’s voice is so funny! Please I need more!