Director: James Watkins
Writer: James Watkins
Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough and Scoot McNairy
Rated: R for some strong violence, language, some sexual content and brief drug use.
Synopsis: When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.
Review: Based on the 2022 Danish film of the same name, Speak No Evil follows the Dalton family, Louise (Mackenzie Davis), Ben (Scoot McNairy) and their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler). The Daltons are an Americans who have recently relocated to London where promised opportunities haven’t played out.
While on vacation, the Daltons meet an enigmatic couple Paddy and Ciara (James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi) and their son Ant (Dan Hough) who invite them to a weekend in the countryside. The invitation is accepted without any real interest in following through. Surely the Daltons will never hear from them again. It would be rude to simply decline.
After returning to London, the Daltons are surprised by a postcard from their newfound friends offering a weekend away from the noise of the urban sprawl. Louise suggests they decline but gives in when it becomes clear that Ben would like to go. The Daltons travel north in their Tesla, leaving the cramped spaces of the city for the open remoteness of Paddy and Ciara’s home.
From the moment the Daltons arrive there are a series of events that bring into question the motive of their hosts. Tensions begin to rise.
The cast is strong and helps to elevate the familiar aspects of the narrative. It’s the sort of story that requires the audience and the characters to look past numerous red flags. Audience members who have the proclivity to shout out warnings to the witless characters will quickly go horse. It’s watchable, maybe even a bit entertaining, despite the utter stupidity of Louise and Ben.
Speak No Evil is faithful to the original up until the final act. The irony here is that the original film gained notoriety because of its third act. The generic nature of the first two thirds was overlooked because the ending packed the sort of punch that we never get from a Hollywood production. By altering the trajectory and giving the story a sanitized ending the remake is utterly forgettable. It’s not terrible. It just feels inert.
There is a point in the film where the Dalton family makes a choice that puts them on a course that cannot be altered. This remake does its best to undo the gravity of that decision. To do so, the script transforms a particular character into something that isn’t supported by the story to that point. It takes the horror aspect out of the movie and turns it into an action thriller. We’ve been here before.
Those who are unaware of the original film’s ending might not realize they are watching the incredibly inferior version of Speak No Evil. That doesn’t change the fact that they are. The film is supposed to make you uncomfortable. So, why does it choose to coddle the audience at the end?
