In case you didn’t know, Speak No Evil is based on a Danish film of the same name, released only two years ago. Given that the latter was already a hit among horror fans thanks to its unrelentingly bleak approach, it’s tempting to chalk this remake up to narcissism. As was the case with the movies Otto and Let Me In, maybe Americans just wanted something of their own. While that may be true, it has to be said that this remake, in a word, is good. It’s thrilling and terrifying in its own right, and it adds enough new elements to keep you on your toes. Apart from the new twists, the characters are also more utilized and the social commentary on class and masculinity feels more pointed. Through these additions, among others, it’s able to imagine an alternative storyline that will speak to a lot of audiences.
"Watkins’ slick direction and McAvoy’s frankly terrifying performance make this an effective, worthy if not essential entry into the “If you go out to the woods today…” creepy canon."
— David Jenkins
"There are a lot of teachable moments here, some of them involving homemade weapons."
— Matt Zoller Seitz
When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.
Ben and Louise Dalton, along with their 11-year-old Agnes, head to the English countryside upon receiving an invite from Paddy and Ciara, a couple they befriended during their summer in Italy. Things begin to unravel over the weekend when Paddy and Ciara commit increasingly unsettling acts.
The ending. I won’t spoil it, but I can already tell it will be the most divisive part of the film. I, for one, was fully satisfied by it.
It’s less impactful than the original, but way more satisfying, especially toward the end.
