The upcoming horror movie Speak No Evil starring James McAvoy is steadily nearing its US release date but the film has already generated several big reactions. The movie is an official remake of a 2022 Danish film of the same name directed by Christian Tafdrup. It follows a family as they befriend another family on vacation and travel to their secluded country home. However, things begin to become disturbingly uncomfortable soon after their arrival.
With the original movie receiving much acclaim upon its release, fans have been curious to know how its English-language counterpart fares in comparison. Judging by the initial reactions and reviews, the Speak No Evil remake seems to be living up to the original’s legacy.
First reactions to Speak No Evil 2024 praise James McAvoy
According to the few viewers who were able to catch Blumhouse’s new film, the remake serves as a worthy adaptation and is elevated by James McAvoy’s masterful performance.
Brandon Davis was one of the first journalists to provide a reaction for Speak No Evil. He described the movie as “captivating” and also praised McAvoy’s versatility. “Speak No Evil is an eerily brilliant theatrical experience. James McAvoy blends charm and terror scarily well,” stated Davis. “The themes of comfort and security juxtaposed with the fear of offending make the film infuriatingly tense. It’s a chilling, captivating, really good thrill ride.”
Ryan Scott of Slashfilm also hailed Speak No Evil for its originality in his reaction. “Speak No Evil, like any remake worth a damn, doesn’t just rehash the same movie all over again,” explained Scott. “James McAvoy is the MVP.”
Speak No Evil was also made available for select journalists to review during the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. Most of the initial viewers ended up sharing the same sentiments regarding the movie’s quality as the ones above. Discussing Film‘s Ernesto Valenzuela labeled the remake as “a cleverly crafted thriller,” while applauding McAvoy’s acting capabilities.
At the time of writing, the 2022 Danish feature has a critic score of 84% and an audience rating of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. With the remake set to come out in theatres on September 13, 2024, fans will have to wait a bit longer to get the final picture of what critics think of Speak No Evil.
