'Speak No Evil' review: American remake makes some noise
Courtesy of Universal
Remakes are always unasked for, but the 2024 Americanized rendition of the 2022 Danish thriller “Speak No Evil,” from writer-director James Watkins, captures the sensibilities of what made the original so uneasy while taking major liberties in the third act. Led by a hulking James McAvoy playing an over-the-top baddie and co-starring Scoot McNairy, Alix West Lefler, Aisling Franciosi, and Mackenzie Davis, “Speak No Evil” is a fun, steady thriller that plays it straight down the middle and services the source material.
Despite the third act updates (there was absolutely no way the studio would have let Watkins keep the original's brutal ending), the set-up stays the same. Louise and Ben Dalton (Davis and McNairy) are an American couple living in the UK with their daughter, Agnes (Lefler) who befriend a British family during their vacation in Italy. They hit it off with Paddy (McAvoy), Ciara (Franciosi) and their son Ant (newcomer Dan Hough), who suffers from a medical condition that renders him mute, so much they decide to meet up for a weekend getaway at their farmhouse in the country (because hanging with vacation friends always works out). Louise expresses her concerns about staying with people they’ve just met, though Ben insists it could be good for them.
Once they arrive, things start to get weird. It’s evident Ben and Louise are having marital struggles, and Agnes, who is almost a teenager, can’t go anywhere without her stuffed animal. At dinner, Paddy forces Louise to eat meat even though she’s a vegetarian and sudden, random violent outbursts and passive aggressive comments have tensions flying. Not to mention something is up with Ant who is trying to send signals to Agnes about his parents’ true intentions. It’s not a spoiler to reveal Paddy and Ciara have some skeletons lurking in their closet as the trailer has given plenty away.
A movie that was built so audiences can holler at the screen when a character does something stupid. Like how, at one point, the family tires dipping in the middle of the night, only to then have to turn back for something they forgot (yeah right!). “Speak No Evil” can’t resist these horror movie troupes, and it quickly detaches itself from whatever reality it establishes late in the fourth quarter. But the updates (and the more American friendly climax) make it a solid endeavor that’s well acted, well staged, and best enjoyed in a large theater where everyone gasps in unison at some wild thrills. It does what a good remake is supposed to do: build on its predecessor’s legacy and retool its DNA just enough to make it seem fresh and inventive.
Grade: B
SPEAK NO EVIL is now playing in theaters.
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