As the modern horror powerhouse that it is, Blumhouse has Universal money behind it. Because of this fact and the brand’s proven track record, they are able to seemingly release movies left and right. And their latest release is Speak No Evil.
Speak No Evil is about an American couple living in London named Ben and Louise (Argo’s Scoot McNairy and Tully’s Mackenzie Davis) who, while vacationing in Italy with their daughter, Agnes (Alix West Lefler from Riverdale), meet another British couple named Paddy and Ciara (Split’s James McAvoy and The Nightingale’s Aisling Franciosi) who are there with their son, Ant (Dan Hough from Hollyoaks). The couples hit it off, and the charming Paddy invites Ben and Louise to come and spend a weekend with his family on their farm. Initially reluctant, they wind up accepting the invitation, but soon after they arrive, they discover that something is off about their hosts.
Speak No Evil is an American remake of a 2022 Danish/Dutch film of the same name from director Christian Tafdrup and his cowriter/brother, Mads (who also did 2017’s A Horrible Woman). Writer/director James Watkins (The Woman in Black, Eden Lake) follows the Tafdrups’ script fairly closely for the first two acts, calling upon the same concepts, themes, and plot points. The third act is where Watkins gets creative, giving the dark and nihilistic ending of the original an Americanized, “Hollywood” makeover.
The reason that Watkins does this is clear – not only does it give the movie more of an action-oriented, fight-or-flight feel, but it prevents criticism that his movie is simply a shot-for-shot remake of the original made in English with top-name actors (see Michael Haneke’s Funny Games).
Speaking of top-name actors, the cast in Speak No Evil is terrific. James McAvoy again proves that he is one of his generation’s biggest talents with his creepy, smiling-to-your-face portrayal of Paddy. Mackenzie Davis is equally good as his foil, the fiercely maternal, anything-but-helpless damsel Louise. Scoot McNairy’s Ben is the opposite of Paddy, an insecure and awkward man who seems to never do anything right. Aisling Franciosi plays her accomplice role with just enough sensitivity to almost garner sympathy for her conniving character. Last, but certainly not least, the kids, Alix West Lefler and Dan Hough, are note-perfect with their performances. The cast is a definite upgrade from the original.
At its core, Speak No Evil is basically a home invasion movie where the invaders are actually the homeowners, making their guests just comfortable enough to let down their guard before they strike. And the striking is subtle. At one point, a character likens what Paddy and Ciara do to a cat playing with its food. The game for them is the chase, which makes Speak No Evil a devilishly captivating watch for the audience.
The horror in Speak No Evil is in the fact that it seems like it could really happen. Everyone likes to think that they’d behave differently if it were them – that they’d not cower in confusion like Ben or not give in to their partner’s indifference like Louise – but in reality, who knows? And that’s what makes it scary. What if it was you in this situation? Would you be able to protect your family, or would you just let this happen?
Speak No Evil is the right way to remake a horror movie, and not just for a Blumhouse production. Sure, some will think James Watkins ruined the ending, just as others will think that the first two-thirds of the movie sticks too close to the original. But Watkins manages to capture the mood and atmosphere of the original movie while still making it his own. Watkins puts a stamp on Speak No Evil that tells the world that he respects the original, but that it needs to respect him, too.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for some strong violence, language, some sexual content and brief drug use
Release Date: September 13, 2024
Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures
This post was last modified on August 1, 2025 1:13 pm