By Elliot Lines September 15, 2024
It was just two years ago that Christian Tafdrup's 'Speak No Evil' released, so when Blumhouse announced that an Americanised re-make would be made there was certainly scepticism amongst horror fans, why make something so close to the original. The keys were given to director James Watkins (Eden Lake, The Woman in Black), and Film Focus Online writer Jack Ransom had the opportunity to sit with Watkins to talk about his new film.
"I've been sent quite a few remakes over the years and been quite sceptical but firstly you've got to love Cristian's film" Watkins told Jack. "I thought it was so clever, I love the themes and thought it was so unrelenting".
Many directors would be put off by a re-make, especially only two years between the films, but Watkins said "If you're going to think about a remake it's got to speak to you in a way where you think you can make it different, or put your own spin on it". Watkins looked at this as an opportunity to tackle a story that said something to him, "I saw this and I thought well there's an opportunity to make my version of this story" said Watkins. "To take it [film] in a slightly different direction and to set it in the UK, and that was a key conversation with Blumhouse, if I can set it in the UK I can make it specific to a world I know"
Talking further on this point Watkins talked about how the Americans are brilliant at mythologizing their own landscape, "We're not great at it in this country [Britain], we have this brilliant resource that we don't use enough." Watkins is completely right, and because of his work before with the like of 'Woman in Black' and 'Eden Lake', this was something he passionately wanted to bring to the film.
'Speak No Evil' boasts a fantastic cast including James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis, "I wrote the script with McAvoy in mind, I spent a lot of time talking with John Harris (Editor) who has edited a few movies with McAvoy and he was like it's got to be McAvoy" said Watkins. "You never tend to get your pick, it's very rare, people lie all the time, but he was literally the only person I sent this to, he read it and was like oh yeah." With James McAvoy at the helm Watkins says "You're away at the races" with regards to acquiring the other roles, "He has so much respect in the world, you can go we've got this film and we've got James McAvoy". As for the rest of the cast, "Scoot [McNairy] and Mackenzie [Davis] were actors that I admired in different ways for different things so approached them both, and the film came together nicely and ridiculously quickly."
Speaking on the future, Watkins mentions not having too much lined up having just done this re-make, "I'm writing something of my own at the moment, whether that's what I end up doing who knows" Watkins says. "I'm led by story, ultimately when you're spending a year and a half of your life making something you have to ask is this a good story, good characters, will it be nourishing for me for the cast and for the audience, and I felt that's what this film would give me."
Thank you to James Watkins for speaking to us, you can see the full interview below! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more upcoming interviews and content!
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