Speak No Evil

When it comes to people who love movies, one of the worst words we can hear is: remake. Sure, there have been some genuinely good remakes, like Ocean’s Eleven and The Fly, but for every one that turns out well, there are ten that just don’t hold a candle to the original. The latest one to test the remake waters is Speak No Evil, a remake of a Danish film from 2022 that left many speechless after viewing. Now Blumhouse has decided to put out an American version, and for those of us who have seen the original, the only question was: will they keep that ending?

Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise (Mackenzie Davis) are on vacation in Italy with their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler), trying to enjoy a little R&R. It is while there that they meet another couple, Paddy (James McAvoy), Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), and their son Ant (Dan Hough), and they seem to hit it off perfectly. So perfectly, in fact, that Paddy invites Ben and Louise to come visit them at their home. At first, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards, but something pushes them to take Paddy up on his offer, so they set out to spend a weekend with them. Once there, things seem great at first, but there are some red flags that start to show themselves, including Paddy making Louise eat meat despite her telling them she is a vegetarian.

The problem is, whenever something seems off, something else shifts things back to a good time. But the one constant that seems off is their son, Ant. Something happens that Louise can’t ignore, and she gathers Agnes and Ben to leave at the break of dawn. However, that escape was not meant to be, and soon Louise, Ben, and Agnes will have to fight if they want to get away.

Written by Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup, who wrote the original, with James Watkins also getting credit on this one, Speak No Evil doesn’t have the effectiveness of the original, but it still delivers a solid thriller. For this version, Watkins, who also directs, plays to the social anxieties of his audience, putting Ben and Louise in what seem like the most awkward situations possible. Watkins finds the perfect balance between uncomfortable and hilarious moments, the latter diffusing the atmosphere while keeping you fully engaged with what is going on.

Speak No Evil doesn’t keep the original’s brutal and unforgiving ending, but the path it takes makes this version feel like a worthy companion to the original. Watkins finds a way to craft his own version of this story while keeping you feeling uncomfortable as it progresses. I do prefer the ending of the original and also the buildup of the situation — something this one does as well, but also gives a few hints at what is happening that weren’t needed. Where the original can’t match is with McAvoy, who transforms into a great villain, finding a way to be terrifying and lovable at different points. It is his performance that is the engine that makes everything work and makes the ending feel well-earned. I really didn’t know what to expect with this, but I am happy to report this version captures a lot of what made the original so impactful, and when it is all over, you might need a moment of silence of your own.