Blumhouse has always been a powerhouse movie studio, but it hasn’t been doing great with the critics lately. Five Nights at Freddy’s, Night Swim, Imaginary, and AfrAId all failed to impress. Could a remake of a 2022 Danish film be a surprise comeback for the studio?
Speak No Evil arrives out a mere two years after the original. Like Christian Tafdrup’s original, we have two couples and their children on a week-long getaway that gets upended when one of the couples’ behavior turns sinister.
This is a great horror movie that plays with audiences. During the movie’s first hour, I was unsure how it would compare to the original. Many of the story beats are the same, and it can sometimes feel like Speak No Evil is going through the motions of the original film. Additionally, the trailers have played so often that frequent moviegoers know it like the back of their hand. From vegetarianism to “Cotton Eye Joe” to fresh underwater therapy to the man who may or may not be a doctor, audiences have a sense of kinship to a movie where they already know what’s coming.
Speak No Evil remains successful, primarily because the film is based around these tense, uncomfortable situations. Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) appear nice enough at first, with one big lunch scene quickly endearing the audience to them both, particularly Paddy. McAvoy is one of the most talented actors working in Hollywood, and he’s the biggest name in the cast, featured on all the posters and marketing. McAvoy is also no stranger to Blumhouse, as he menaced Anya Taylor Joy in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split. While this isn’t his best or flashiest work as an actor, he does a superb job of playing the charismatic charmer at the beginning.
The fun of this movie comes from being placed in situations where we wonder what our main couple will do. This movie improves on its predecessor by giving Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben (Scoot McNairy) more development. They have more conflict with each other, with an unresolved conflict that looms large between them. The new Speak No Evil hits many of the same beats while adding more scenes surrounding Paddy and Ciara’s son, Ant (Dan Hough). In general, the movie puts a greater emphasis on the children, giving them a vital role in the story.
One of the more surprising elements is how funny the film is. Although there are some dark, horrifying moments where the discomfort is not played for laughs, a few sequences had the audience in stitches. A lot of humor comes from imagining ourselves as the main couple and thinking about what we would do in this situation. We also learn about who they are through how they respond to these events, with Louise being a bit more strong-headed while Ben is a pushover.
Speak No Evil works a bit less when it’s mimicking the original film. The Danish Speak No Evil did a better job of crafting these situations designed to get under your skin, and many of the sequences during the first two acts are similar to the original but not as good. The place where this movie differs the most from that movie is the final act, which is where our remake takes on a life of its own. The original film achieved a very specific effect on its viewers with the ending—helplessness, disgust, and frustration. The Danish film is a good choice for those who like bleak, unsettling horror.
But the 2024 movie goes for something completely different. It’s aiming to have a broader appeal and give American audiences something more palatable. That’s why this movie ends in an extended action sequence that has our family members hiding and fighting as dangers close in on them. It’s a lengthier, more thrilling finale than its predecessor that allows our characters to take on new life as they try to escape a nightmarish situation. Alix West Lefner, the actress who plays the daughter, Agnes, does an excellent job here, too.
Neither of the Speak No Evils will please everyone, mainly due to depictions of abuse and unsettling subject matter. However, writer/director James Watkins did a fantastic job of bringing this story to Hollywood. It has enough entertainment value to rewatch, which is something that cannot be said about the Danish film. Speak No Evil is a bit predictable, never offering too many surprises, but it keeps you grimacing at the screen.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
