A remake of the 2022 Danish horror-thriller, Speak No Evil follows an American couple and their young daughter, who, while on vacation, befriend a charming British family. When they’re invited to spend the weekend at the couple’s idyllic country estate, what begins as a dream getaway soon warps into a psychological nightmare. The family quickly senses that their hosts’ warm hospitality is masking something far darker.
The film explores this premise effectively, delivering several cringe-inducing scenes that make the viewer squirm. Director James Watkins skillfully ramps up the discomfort, keeping the audience on edge as the true nature of the hosts is gradually revealed.
A huge part of what makes Speak No Evil work is James McAvoy’s standout performance. He walks a fine line between charismatic and unnerving, using subtle shifts in his eyes and smile to make his character unpredictable and unsettling. Every moment he’s on screen, the tension rises, elevating the film above its otherwise standard plot elements. His performance single-handedly keeps the audience glued, despite the rest of the cast being fairly passable.
Scott McNairy plays a role similar to what he did in Nightbitch earlier this year, and while he’s serviceable, there’s not much depth to his character. The supporting cast tends to lean too heavily into their roles, sometimes lacking the subtlety necessary for the film’s suspense. None of the characters are particularly likable, and there’s little reason to root for the main couple or their child. Still, the mystery surrounding the hosts keeps us hooked, even if the constant back-and-forth of the characters leaving and returning to the house can be frustrating. A standout moment takes place during one dinner scene in a restaurant, where the film’s uncomfortable tension reaches its peak, blending the cringe comedy aspects with the unsettling undertones that the film was only hinting at.
The final act delivers a solid explanation for the couple’s strange behavior and culminates in a tense series of events. Again, McAvoy does the heavy lifting, carrying the climax with his disturbing presence. However, the changes made from the original Danish version do lessen the impact of the film. The title Speak No Evil becomes almost irrelevant in the context of the remake, and leave the film feeling somewhat unremarkable in comparison. It still manages to provide a tense, uncomfortable and fun viewing experience.