This review contains spoilers. Read at your own risk.
In the world of horror cinema, few stories manage to leave a lasting impression like Speak No Evil. Originally released in 2022 as a niche Danish film, it captivated audiences with its unsettling atmosphere full of tension and dread. Now, under the direction of James Watkins, this chilling narrative has been reimagined for wider audiences, featuring a star-studded cast that includes James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi.
The remake promises to explore the same themes of trust and betrayal but with a fresh perspective. However, does it succeed in recreating the same haunting experience?
Speak No Evil, Everything is not what it seems
Speak No Evil (2024) follows an American couple, Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy) and Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis), who become friends with a free-spirited British family, Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), during their summer vacation in Italy.
Back home in London, the couple is struggling with tensions arising from Ben's unemployment and Louise's infidelity. A letter from Paddy and Ciara arrives, inviting the Daltons to their remote farmhouse in Devon. Hoping the change of scenery will benefit their relationship and help ease the anxiety of their daughter, Agnes, who is attached to a stuffed bunny named Hoppy, they decide to accept the invitation.
Upon arriving at the farmhouse, Louise, Ben, and Agnes receive a warm welcome. However, as they spend more time in the house, they become increasingly unsettled by strange occurrences and passive-aggressive behavior from their hosts that crosses personal boundaries. Louise is particularly disturbed by Paddy and Ciara's harsh treatment of their son, Ant, who was born with a condition that affects his ability to communicate due to a smaller tongue.
As one inconvenience leads to another, Louise and Ben soon realize that something sinister lurks beneath the surface.
Speak No Evil review
 Speak no devil film./ Foto: IMDb |
As someone who sat in the theater already aware of what was about to happen, the excitement wasn't as intense. Right from the start, I could already feel that the remake adopts a more Hollywood approach, likely tailored for a mass audience.
In addition to a few new scenes, one notable moment was cut from the film. However, the most significant change lies in the ending.
In the original version, the family met a harrowing fate; none of them survived. This conclusion is undeniably darker and profoundly disturbing. While the revised ending may provide a sense of satisfaction, it also diminishes the raw emotional intensity that made the original so impactful. Gone is that lingering sense of hopelessness and heartbreak that comes with watching a truly bleak, unsettling conclusion though I could not muster any sympathy for the characters' fates either.
However, the new ending is not completely a happy ending either, to say the least. Ant still couldn't bring his parents back and had to adjust to life with a new family that chose to save him. And instead of feeling a sense of relief, you're left with the haunting image of trauma lingering in his eyes, buried deep. I want to express my appreciation for the new ending for its fresh take on Ant's character, and for prompting us to ponder his fate, instead of just primarily focusing on the Daltons.
 Speak no Devil film/ Foto: IMDb |
In a nutshell, it's all just Paddy dumping the trauma he endured from his parents onto his victims. And the thing about trauma? It doesn't simply vanish. It stays, festers, and quietly transforms into something you might not even recognize. Before you know it, it's simmering beneath the surface, casting shadows, and you're unknowingly repeating the same destructive cycle.
That's why sometimes, the victim becomes the perpetrator. Hence, the new ending doesn't guarantee that the cycle won't repeat itself. There's no assurance that the same darkness won't resurface in a different form, leaving an unsettling sense that the trauma continues to linger, waiting to strike once more.
The same goes for the others. Sure, their survival instincts might be sharper than the characters in the original as they managed to escape a psychotic weekend-but at what cost? Their lives are forever altered. The weight of it all remains just as depressing, if not more so.
That said, it doesn't diminish the brilliance of the storytelling. James McAvoy, in particular, is exceptional as Paddy. He has his own way in channeling a simmering intensity through his mysterious emotions and unnerving glare, leaving us on edge with every scene. If anything, his performance is the driving force that truly elevates the entire film.
It turns out, I wasn't the only one who saw McAvoy as the ideal fit. Director James Watkins had him in mind from the start, stating, "I'm sure that lots of other brilliant actors could have played that role. But when I was writing it, I was thinking of James McAvoy. I can just completely see him playing this character," per Variety.
 Speak no devil film/ Foto: IMDb |
All in all, I think they did well with the remake. While it does feel a little 'Americanized,' I personally didn't find that to be a problem.
The core message remains intact: avoid being a people pleaser. Sometimes we endure too much discomfort for the sake of others. This theme resonates throughout the film, illustrating how failing to conform can lead to being trampled by those around us. I still get chills when I think about the scene when the family asks, "Why are you doing this to us?" McAvoy's response is strikingly simple yet profoundly shocking: "Because you let me." This moment serves as a haunting reminder of how easily vulnerability can be taken advantage of by those with darker intentions.
(HAI/tim)