*Content warning: spoilers ahead*
Imogen Webb
Speak No Evil is a new movie which has come to thrill audience members this Halloween but it’s certainly not a new story. Has this remake jumped the gun of the recent Danish cult classic?
Speak No Evil, directed and written by James Watkins (Woman in Black), is both a tense and horrifying thrill ride and the ultimate guide of what not to do when meeting new people. James McAvoy (Split) and Aisling Franciosi (The Nightingale) star as the dynamic, spurious couple Paddy and Ciara who, whilst on holiday, befriend American expat holiday goers Louise and Ben Dalton played by Mackenzie Davis (The Martian) and Scoot McNairy (Killing Them Softly.)
The two families quickly form a companionship aided by the bond building between the two children, Agnes (Alix West Lefler), and Ant (Dan Hough). Ant is explained by the couple as having difficulty communicating. He is unable to speak. The friendship progresses fast and eventually results in the Daltons visiting their new friends at their West Country farmhouse where they eventually learn, after far too many missed red flags, that Paddy and Ciara have much more sinister motives than a weekend with friends.
Was the Remake Necessary?
The movie, released in cinemas 12th September, is an American Blumhouse remake of the 2022 Danish Horror film of the same name. You might be wondering what warranted a remake this soon after the original. After all, it can be argued that most remakes don’t do the original justice. As it turns out, James McAvoy was a good enough reason alone. Already known as a master of terrifying audiences, with his performance in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, McAvoy’s portrayal of the charming and terrifying Paddy will leave audiences hysterically laughing whilst hiding behind their fingers.
“The most relatable theme […] is the curse of unwavering social politeness and people pleasing”
Countless funny scenes are perfectly executed. This is usually due to Paddy doing something the antithesis of the polite societal norms. This then shifts focus to Ben and his reaction, which is often one of utter disbelief. This dynamic, and humour fraught with tense energy, is strangely reminiscent of The Office to the point where you expect Ben to look at the camera with the classic zoom-in. The tactic of making the audience unsure whether to laugh or curl their toes in cringe helps to build tension and discomfort ultimately resulting in an almost unbearable finale. Unbearable in the best possible way.
Relatable Themes
In 2024, we are all aware of the dangers of meeting strangers online. The age-old lesson of stranger danger is engrained into our minds from a young age, especially when it comes to going out in public. However, when you move the setting to a luxury holiday resort and involve a friendly family dynamic, it’s easy for your guard to be let down.
“It’s a really scary movie, it’s a really funny movie as well”
In dating, work, and life, we all look for red flags which help us to avoid the worst outcome. There are countless classic moments of wanting to shout at the characters for making stupid decisions starting out early on. Letting your daughter ride on a motorised scooter, without a helmet, and with a stranger should have been a red flag. The abusive behaviour of Paddy towards his ‘son’ Ant should have been a red flag. However, there also comes some understanding due to the strange likeability and charm of Paddy and Ciara.
The most relatable theme the plot hinges on is the curse of unwavering social politeness and people pleasing. To keep their new friends happy, Louise eats goose despite already having explained herself as vegetarian. The Daltons allow their daughter to sleep on a mattress on the floor and don’t say anything when they find their sheets are dirty (red flag!), and they even don’t leave the house after seeing Paddy’s highly abusive treatment of Ant.
Key Take-Aways
In a Today with Hoda and Jenny interview, McAvoy said: “It’s a really scary movie, it’s a really funny movie as well. It’s the tension in the movie. It’s palpable.” McAvoy even went on to recount an audience member screaming at the screen to take his character ‘out’. This is certainly a similar audience experience to mine. Disbelieving laughter scattered around the cinema to the point where you wouldn’t believe it’s a horror movie. It begs to be seen on a big screen, surrounded by people who are experiencing the same tension.
Despite being an incredibly tense and hard-to-watch movie, I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as scary. There are intense hiding scenes which leave you holding your breath along with the characters and some shocking violence, however, the main horror of the movie came from intense discomfort and shock value generated by the masterful cast ensemble and James McAvoy’s lead.
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Featured image courtesy of Felix Mooneeram on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes have been made to this image.
