James McAvoy in ‘Speak No Evil.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Opening in theaters on September 13th, ‘Speak No Evil’ takes on the basic concept of a 2022 Danish chiller that has a shocking, politically charged and pitch-black ending and re-imagines it for American audiences in a way that still works.
Though some might argue that the harder edges of the original –– which (spoiler alert if you haven’t seen it) ends with the murder of a child and a couple stoned to death that carries heavy echoes of the Holocaust –– have been whittled down here, there are still plenty of shocks and surprises to keep you guessing.
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Does ‘Speak No Evil’ Shout Proudly?
(L to R) Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy) and Paddy (James McAvoy) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
Director Christian Tafdrup’s screenplay for the original film (written with brother Mads) shocked –– and in some cases, appalled those who saw it as part of 2022’s Sundance Film Festival. The big question was whether anyone would ever risk trying to remake it.
Now we have our answer, as the Blumhouse team has stepped up to do just that, with ‘Eden Lake’ and ‘The Woman in Black’ writer/director James Watkins hired to bring his own take and style to the new movie. And while he’s certainly made some big changes, the twisty story, bolstered by great work from the likes of James McAvoy, Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis, certainly makes for an enjoyable tense time at the movies.
Script and Direction
(L to R) James McAvoy and director James Watkins on the set of ‘Speak No Evil.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
Watkins is no stranger to bleak filmmaking –– after all ‘Eden Lake’ doesn’t exactly end with jokes and smiles. But what he chooses to do with ‘Speak No Evil’ is definitely interesting. Does it completely edge the new movie into justifying the remake completely? Not always, but it’s enough.
Here, he borrows the basic premise of the Danish film –– two families interact in a way that is built on different cultural understandings of politeness and behavior, albeit to a less harsh degree than that of the original, since Americans and Brits share a lot of them. Yet there are other, different themes at play here, including toxic masculinity, guilt, financial struggles and misunderstandings.
His script gives McAvoy in particular some great moments to play, but serves the whole smallish cast well, adding agency to the younger characters that the Danish film did not possess.
On the visual front, the isolated farmhouse and rugged countryside offer interest and drama as the setting, while Watkins and regular cinematographer Tim Maurice-Jones get great mileage out of both the Italian and UK vistas.
Performances
McAvoy has the showiest part, but he’s very well supported by the others, who all enjoy dimensional characters and moments to shine.
James McAvoy as Paddy
Paddy (James McAvoy) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
Paddy is a fascinating character for McAvoy to bring to life, a bubbling, ostensibly charming but often overbearing blend of masculine energy and opinions. Along with Watkins, canny, well-constructed script, he slowly builds the tension until Paddy’s true intentions become clear.
Scoot McNairy as Ben Dalton
(L to R) Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler), Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy), and Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
As one half of the couple who befriend Paddy and his wife, McNairy brings big “beta male” energy to Ben, a passive businessman who moved his family to London for his career but has seen his fortunes take a tumble. Like McAvoy, he commits to the role, bringing a nervy energy to the character who fears he may never match up to Paddy –– but has strength where it counts.
Mackenzie Davis as Louise Dalton
Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
Louise might be the most complex character in the movie. A protective mother, a concerned wife but also a fully-rounded human being with her own drives and secrets. And she’s also something of a badass when called upon.
It also doesn’t hurt that Davis and McNairy spent years working together (albeit not playing husband and wife) on AMC TV series ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ and bring their long experience to the on-screen relationship.
Aisling Franciosi as Ciara
(L to R) Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
Though Franciosi’s role is smaller, she also gets some good moments, particularly when the true nature of Paddy and Ciara’s behavior is revealed. She and McAvoy have a great dynamic.
Supporting cast
(L to R) Ant (Dan Hough) and Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
While the cast is understandably kept small, there are some other notable performances. Alix West Lefler as Ben and Louise’s daughter Agnes is good in her smaller role, since one of Watkins’ changes from the original is to give the families’ children some more agency. Together with Dan Hough, who makes a strong debut as Ant, Paddy and Ciara’s son, the person who keys Agnes and the others into Paddy’s dark side, all without saying a word. Finally, there is Kris Hitchen as Mike, Paddy and Ciara’s friendly neighborhood pub owner and chef, who turns out to have a similar dark side.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler), Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
There will always be those who decry remakes as unnecessary and creatively bankrupt. But when you have a film as inventive and entertaining as ‘Speak No Evil’ turned out to be, it’s a welcome reminder that that’s not always the case.
While it won’t have anyone shocked in quite the same way as the original, the new version is certainly tense and thrilling, and will keep you guessing as it puts its characters through the wringer.
Yes, it’s more straightforward, but it has its own dark charms.
‘Speak No Evil’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
What is the plot of ‘Speak No Evil’?
A dream holiday in a beautiful country house becomes a psychological nightmare.
Who is in the cast of ‘Speak No Evil’?
- James McAvoy as Paddy
- Mackenzie Davis as Louise Dalton
- Scoot McNairy as Ben Dalton
- Aisling Franciosi as Ciara
- Alix West Lefler as Agnes Dalton
- Dan Hough as Ant
(L to R) Ant (Dan Hough), Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), and Paddy (James McAvoy) in ‘Speak No Evil’, directed by James Watkins.
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