Speak no Evil – Movie Review
Director: James Watkins
Writer: Christian Tafdrup, Mads Tafdrup, James Watkins (Screenplay)
Cast
- James McAvoy (Split)
- Mackenzie Davis (Terminator Dark Fate)
- Scoot McNairy (12 Years a Slave)
- Aisling Franciosi (Stopmotion)
- Alix West Lefler (Fire Country)
Plot: A family is invited to spend a weekend in an idyllic country house, unaware that their dream vacation will soon become a psychological nightmare.
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Speak No Evil starts when American couple Louise (Davis) and Ben (McNairy) meet an English couple Paddy (McAvoy) and Ciara (Franciosi) while holidaying in Italy. The two couples hit it off with Paddy inviting them to spend a week on the West Country Farm. After having a few problems at home, Louise and Ben decide they need a break and take up the invitation.
However, once there, they see a darker side to Paddy and get an urge to leave. They try their best to overlook the incidents, but soon they must deal with the psychotic side of the couple.
Verdict on Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil is a horror thriller following a family accepting an invitation to join a family they met on holiday. It looks like a perfect getaway in the country but turns into a nightmare when they learn what the family have planned for them.
This is a remake of a 2022 movie and the original is one of the most shocking, disturbing and empty-feeling movies you will ever see. In the remake, we get the Hollywood treatment. While most of the movie brings the same intense levels of tension, only elevated by James McAvoy’s excellent performance. It sadly lacks that gut punch the original has and leaves you with one of the most generic, safe and routine final acts imaginable. The trailer also gives far too much away, which is always disappointing to see.
Final Thoughts –Speak No Evil captures some of the magic of the original but plays way too safe.