The story (based off a 2022 Danish film of the same name) follows Ben and Louise Dalton and their 11-year-old daughter Agnes, who are staying in a hotel over the summer. Among the other guests are charismatic and spontaneous Paddy and Ciara, whose mute child Ant is of a similar age to Agnes. Although there is some initial awkwardness, the two families quickly become close, and several weeks after the holiday ends Louise and Ben receive an invitation to stay with Paddy and Ciara on their farm in the West Country. Despite initial reservations, the awkwardness in Ben and Louise's marriage eventually urges them to accept the invitation, believing it would be good to take a break from everyday domestic life.
However, the moment they arrive there is immediate tension present, from dirty sheets in the guest room, to the constant ‘forgetfulness’ that Louise is a vegetarian, to Paddy’s treatment of Ant. The Daltons try and push through this difficulty and enjoy the holiday, putting any miscommunication down to a cultural difference. However, as these microaggressions become less micro and more macro, the audience begin to question how much all of the characters are willing to put up with in the sake of politeness.
The acting in the movie is wonderful. James McAvoy effortlessly shifts between charismatic and psychopathic, two starkly different characters, whilst still maintaining consistency so Paddy’s descent into violence doesn’t feel unnatural. Mackenzie Davis shines as Louise, demonstrating the character’s uneasiness and forced courtesy towards their hosts. I also have to note that Louise is one of the smartest horror movie characters I’ve ever seen, and it’s so much more satisfying to see people that do all the right things and still end up involved. Scoot McNairy portrays Ben’s resentment and restraint, whist Aisling Franciosi’s Ciara is equal parts victim and villain, portraying both vulnerability and harshness. Despite this star-studded cast, I feel that the most impactful performance came from Dan Hough in the role of Ant (Paddy and Ciara’s son). Despite not having a single spoken line, he manages to convey a heart wrenching mixture of emotions, highlighting Ant’s fear and hope. His final act of revenge on Paddy is brilliant and chilling to watch, as is the moment where he reveals the truth to Agnes.
I definitely enjoyed ‘Speak No Evil’ and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to watch something scary, but not ‘too scary’ this Halloween.
Of course, with everything there must be criticisms, and ‘Speak No Evil’ did have things that I wish could have been improved. I felt that the movie began a bit slowly, with me being confused about where the plot was going at the beginning as I went into the movie mostly blind, only knowing that it was a thriller. I can’t say that I was bored, as even the non-scary section were interesting to watch, however if you want a movie that is creepy right from the beginning, this is probably not the one for you. My other criticism is more of a personal one: the ending. I like when a horror movie leaves you feeling disturbed and unsure and the original 2022 movie does end on a terrifying note. This version, however, is more conventional, allowing the characters to have a ‘happy’ ending.
Despite my criticisms, I definitely enjoyed ‘Speak No Evil’ and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to watch something scary, but not ‘too scary’ this Halloween.
