Speak No Evil (2024), directed by James Watkins, is a psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This version is a remake of the 2022 original directed by Christian Tafdrup.
Louise (Mackenzie Davis), Ben (Scoot McNairy), and their daughter, Agnes (Alix West Lefler), are an ordinary family. While on vacation in Italy, they meet Paddy (James McAvoy), who is a small-town doctor with an overly passionate and funny personality, along with his wife, Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), and their son, Ant (Dan Hough), who is unable to speak due to the “condition” he suffers from. Paddy and Ciara invite them to stay at their remote farmhouse for some fun and relaxation. Louise and Ben accept their offer, and that’s when things start to take a turn for the worse.
The visit slowly becomes more uncomfortable, mainly for Louise, as she soon becomes more aware of their strange behavior. Ben understands why his wife wants to leave, but he continues to ignore their red flags and decides to stay. As the days go on, it becomes more and more clear that these people aren’t who they say they are. What’s great about this movie is how subtly moments of unease are delivered throughout, which makes the twists all the more shocking. At times when I thought my prediction would be correct, they turned out to be something I totally wasn’t expecting. I also really liked how much tension and awkwardness there was. I a lot of this, I believe, was possible because of the acting.
The movie was well cast, and the acting felt natural. Who I believe performed the best, though, was the father of the other family, Paddy. His character is very unsettling, and he plays it well. His multi-faced character really leaves you wondering what he’ll do next.
But on a negative note, a character that annoyed me was the father, Ben. The whole time Louise was the one trying to save her family. Meanwhile, Ben completely disregarded the problems and barely fended for himself or his family. He had his few “save the cat” moments, but the mom was protecting them constantly throughout. It just honestly shows how weak he was. I did chuckle a couple of times whenever he did something stupid. For example, he had to throw something on the roof from another window and it didn’t work. He wasn’t horrible, and his acting wasn’t bad, but, overall, his character wasn’t strong. Maybe that was the point, though.
For those who haven’t seen the movie, I can almost guarantee you’ll enjoy Speak No Evil. The ending is much different from the original film. The 2024 version is more predictable but less dark.
Overall, I’d give this movie an 8/10. The acting is strong and so is the story. It does take a bit for the plot to progress, but it’s still entertaining as they give hints and moments of tension along the way that are interesting. If you enjoy a psychological thriller that will bring you some anxiety, I suggest you watch Speak No Evil.
