Speak No Evil Review: James McAvoy Stars in an English Language Remake that Misses the Point

   November 16, 2024
Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis and Alix West Lefler in Speak No Evil (2024)
Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis and Alix West Lefler in Speak No Evil (2024)

Hollywood has a long history of remaking the best foreign-language horror films. International classics rarely remain untouched, as studios frequently adapt these proven successes for English-speaking audiences. Examples include Ring, The Vanishing, and Funny Games, which are just a few among many foreign horror films that have inspired Hollywood remakes.

Which is why it wasn’t surprising when 2022‘s breakout foreign-language film Speak No Evil received the remake treatment. The Danish original, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to wide acclaim and later gained a cult following, was both unsettling and disturbing, culminating in a shocking final act I won’t spoil here.

And for the most part, I find that film convincing and affective. Speak No Evil (both the 2022 Danish and 2024 English versions) follows two couples who meet while on vacation. While making friends on vacation isn’t unusual, staying in touch and even visiting them afterward is. In fact, Speak No Evil serves as a clear warning to avoid doing just that.

For Louise and Ben (played by Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy), the seemingly friendly British family they meet while vacationing in Italy turns out to be far less kind than they appear. The British family includes Clara (Aisling Franciosi – Stopmotion, The Last Voyage of the Demeter), Paddy (James McAvoy – Split, It Chapter Two), and their young son Ant (Dan Hough).

The trip starts off awkwardly. The two families no longer seem as close, with the British couple’s behavior—such as Paddy insisting Louise try a local delicacy despite her being vegetarian—coming across as rude or unsettling. These moments create a cringe-worthy atmosphere, which is both intentional and effective under James Watkins’ direction. While Speak No Evil sometimes feels like a shot-for-shot remake of the original, it still manages to evoke the same emotions and fears with equal intensity.

A big part of the film’s success is James McAvoy’s brilliant performance as the antagonist. His charisma and extroversion make it believable that he could persuade Louise, Ben, and their daughter Agnes (played by Alix West Lefler) to visit his family in Britain after just a few days of knowing each other. At the same time, McAvoy adds a layer of creepiness and menace with incredible detail. His performance is truly what drives the film, maintaining its tension and keeping it compelling.

Throughout the film, I couldn’t help but wonder if Speak No Evil would follow the same brutal and upsetting climax as the original, which remains one of the most intense moments of this decade. The remake, however, doesn’t reach the same demented conclusion. It rewrites that pivotal ending, which weakens the overall tension and causes the film to lose some of its impact. While the Danish version left me reflecting on its final scenes for days, this time, the ending didn’t linger in my mind at all.

While I appreciate many of James Watkins’ directorial choices and the strong performances from James McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi, Scoot McNairy, and Mackenzie Davis—who all have great chemistry—I can’t shake the feeling that Speak No Evil missed an opportunity. It could have delivered a real shock to the studio horror system but instead falls into the same familiar patterns. The film ends up being a watered-down, more subdued version of the original, which felt fresh and unsettling just a few years ago. It’s not a complete failure, but it misses the mark.

Score: 5/10

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