By Jack Ransom September 10, 2024
The Western remake of 2022’s critically acclaimed Danish feature.
Having not seen the original film, I really had no prior expectations or knowledge of the plot details before going into this outside of ‘don’t become too friendly with folks you have just met on holiday’ and the trailer pretty much delivers exactly what you expect from the premise in a positive way! This American remake thankfully doesn’t continue Blumhouse’s rough track this year ('Night Swim', 'Imaginary' and 'AfrAId' all have been panned) and instead provides a very solid and well performed intense tension builder.
Synopsis
'Speak No Evil' sees a family (Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis & Alix West Lefler), get invited to spend a weekend in an idyllic country house, unaware that their dream vacation will soon become a psychological nightmare.
Review
Clocking in at just under 2 hours, this is a well paced thriller. Swiftly establishing the Dalton family (Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy & Alix West Lefler) as a very routine, overprotective, non-risk taking trio who unwittingly…yet they simultaneously embracingly and suspiciously befriend a very forward and brash British family (James McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi & Dan Hough). After the Dalton’s accept the family’s invitation to stay with them.
In their isolated country house things soon begin to unravel.
There is a palpable sense of unease and unpredictability to from here on out. As Paddy and Ciara’s questionable parental tactics, cutthroat views and both free spirited and nihilistic outlook on life bubble to the service the Dalton’s realise what they have got themselves into. It may be lacking in monumental surprises (the trailer very much is the film that you are getting), but it’s the various escalating set pieces that range from uncomfortable dinner conversation, Paddy’s (McAvoy) rage at his son being out of time during a dance number with the Dalton’s daughter before the final third explodes into paranoid horror territory.
The finale chase around the house is riveting, claustrophobic and scrappy. Every hit is blunt, heavy and visceral, with these everyday people having to adjust to the wavelength of their captors to fight their way out with knives, cutlery, needles and even bleach at one point. The set design for the house is packed with furniture, antiques, hiding spaces and the location cinematography for the countryside is impressively captured and vast.
Performances are strong all round, McAvoy is clearly channelling some 'Split' influence on Paddy and his growing violent, unpredictable and wide-eyed psychotic presence treads the line between hammy and horrific. Aisling Franciosi matches this in her own way. Both Mackenzie Davis and Scott McNairy are a believable couple on the rocks and you sense the genuine care of their relationship despite their underlying grievances with one another.
'Speak No Evil' is a very solid thriller that is certainly worth seeking out if you are in the mood for an injection of intensity on the big screen. McAvoy is impressive, the middle of nowhere location is effective and the tension building is well paced. 'Speak No Evil' may not particularly offer huge surprises or be particularly standout in its overall presentation, but is by far the best Blumhouse flick this year.
Star Rating
'Speak No Evil' releases in cinemas September 12
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