Speak No Evil (2024): Film Review
I was pretty outraged when this film got announced because I didn’t think Speak No Evil warranted a remake. The original Danish film was only released in 2022 and it was mostly in English. What was the point?! Thankfully, this Hollywood version is substantially different and actually very good.
Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy play Louise and Ben, an American couple who befriends a British couple, Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), on holiday in Italy. Shortly after Louise and Ben return home to London, Paddy and Ciara invite them and their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) to their remote country house in Devon for the weekend with them and their non-verbal son Ant (Dan Hough). In a short space of time, their relaxing holiday becomes a psychological nightmare.
I had a feeling that director James Watkins would overhaul the original ending because it is very bleak, haunting and upsetting. As expected, the final act is completely different and a more palatable Hollywood-friendly version of the story. This is the right call though because it means there’s something new and exciting in here for everyone, even if you have seen the original. It levels the playing field so nobody knows what’s going to happen in the third act. There are also substantial differences throughout, although the main beats of the mid-section are very similar.
Another key difference is that this is a thriller instead of a horror. It is much more of an all-around entertaining film with a surprising amount of laughs. Much like the original, it’s a slow-burner, but it builds in intensity until it reaches the exciting, nail-biting and edge-of-your-seat final act. This is a great one to watch with a crowd as there are plenty of moments that are designed to provoke a reaction.
We have seen McAvoy in horror beast mode before with Split and Glass so we know he’s got the goods. Paddy is more grounded but when the charismatic front comes down, he’s unhinged, menacing and chilling. Also, you can’t help but laugh at him sometimes when he says something totally un-PC or he sings to tunes. McAvoy looked like he had a ball with this. Also, I really liked Davis and I’m glad Louise had a lot of ingenuity and resourcefulness.
I was ready to write Speak No Evil off as a hollow Hollywood remake but I couldn’t because it was surprisingly great!
P.S. Please check out the original too!
In cinemas from Thursday 12th September