Viewers of 2022 Danish film Speak No Evil will be wondering how the hell this Hollywood remake would incorporate the originals bleakest of bleak endings. The answer is, it simply doesn't, completely changing the third act to something much more audience friendly. Does that make this version far less impactful? Yes. Does it make it bad? No.
Louise and Ben Dalton (Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy) are on holiday with their daughter where they meet Paddy (James McAvoy) and Chiara (Aisling Francis) who are holidaying with their mute son Ant. Despite their different outlooks on life the couples become friends and upon returning to their strained life back in London the Daltons decide to take Paddy and Chiara up on the offer of a visit to the West Country. Louise quickly becomes uncomfortable but Ben is charmed by the rustic lifestyle and enthralled by the bullish Paddy, who's no nonsense lust for life and alpha male energy he longs to embody himself. As time goes on social awkwardness begins to turn into something more sinister and the visitors find they might have more to worry about than unpristine bedsheets.
For most of the runtime Speak No Evil is played almost like a comedy, with the characters being pretty extreme examples of their archetypes and there are various funny scenes as the visitors are completely unsure how to react to their host's eccentricities. Laughter is of the nervous variety though as there is an undercurrent of menace steadily building throughout. The balance between amusing and disconcerting is played expertly and gives the film a unique feel. It culminates in a very different final act than the source film but one that is entertaining in a very Hollywood way. The problem with changing the finale is that it fundamentally changes the theme of the film, rendering the title somewhat redundant and the new subtext of "don't mess with the middle class" is a little trite.
All the cast do a great job but the real reason to see this movie is James McAvoy. Like in 2016's Split (and follow up Glass), he brings a levelling up performance to what could have been a standard genre movie. The film working hinges on his ability to terrify, charm and rise a laugh, sometimes all at once. Embodying both earthy charisma and physical menace in equal amounts, you can well imagine why Ben is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt even when it's obvious all is not well.
With Eden Lake and Women in Black under his belt, director James Watkins is no stranger to making a well received horror/thriller and Speak No Evil is likely to join them. Fans of the original may lament the change in finale but it makes this version feel more like its own animal and will be far more palatable to a mainstream audience.
7 Kids in time with the music out of 10.
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