Speak No Evil (2 1/2 stars out of 4)
I like to think of myself as a horror movie fan, and there are plenty of longtime favorite movies that would support that claim. But sometimes I come across a “good” horror movie that is a bit too unsettling to offer a full-throated recommendation, and I’m always left wondering if I’m not as much a fan of the genre as I think.
Such was the case when I saw Robert Eggers’ “The Witch” at Sundance years ago, and though Blumhouse’s new thriller “Speak No Evil” isn’t near as atmospheric or unique, it still leaves me in the same spot.
“New,” of course, is a relative term. James Watkins’ “Speak No Evil” is a remake of a Danish film from 2022. It follows a small family in England who travels to the country and stay with another small family they met in Italy, only to find that they’ve been lured into a devious trap.
Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise (Mackenzie Davis) are successful enough to live in London and vacation in Italy, but they’re still dealing with some substantial professional and romantic challenges. So they’re intrigued by Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), a carefree and eccentric couple they meet in Italy. And when Paddy and Ciara insist that they bring their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) and come stay with them in the English countryside, Ben and Louise accept the gracious offer.
At first Ben and Louise dismiss their hosts’ outspoken behavior and rustic, unkempt farm as evidence of “different strokes for different folks,” but as one mishap leads to another, the atmosphere slowly moves from uncomfortable to alarming. It also seems as if Paddy and Ciara’s mute son Ant (Dan Hough) is trying to warn them of something.
It isn’t hard to guess where things are going, even if you haven’t seen the trailer or the original film. The plot of “Speak No Evil” isn’t really interested in asking “if” something is wrong so much as it’s focused on asking whether Scoot and his family are going to escape. In spite of this, the film still manages a solid degree of tension, and if it helps, word is the American version has changed the ending of the original, so this isn’t a completely redundant exercise.
The plot and script are solid, as is the casting, but the number one reason to see “Speak No Evil” is to experience McAvoy’s uncanny performance as Paddy. McAvoy has the uncanny ability to come across as someone who could be both your best drinking buddy and a completely sadistic madman, and Watkins’ film sprinkles in enough dark humor to both maintain the proper level of tension and really give McAvoy some moments to shine. Even if Watkins has to mess with your favorite Bangles song to do so.
For an R-rated horror movie, “Speak No Evil’s” violence stays pretty muted until the third act—much of the rating comes from sporadic profanity and some suggestive content—but when things do come to a head, the film might cross a line or two for some audiences. In fact, the audience reaction was one of the things that had me guessing as the final credits rolled.
So ultimately, “Speak No Evil” may just be one of those solid horror movies that just isn’t my cup of tea. If your horror tastes appreciate themes like home invasion or the kind of human cruelty that is well within the bounds of reality (as opposed to zombies or superhuman serial killers), Watkins’ film might be just your thing.
“Speak No Evil” is rated R for scenes of graphic violence, profanity, and some suggestive content.