Speak No Evil (2024)
Directed by James Watkins
[Rated R] 1hr 50min
★★★½
Speak No Evil is a horror/thriller film and American remake of the 2022 Danish-Dutch film of the same name. It follows a family that visits their new friends in the English countryside, but they become increasingly uncomfortable with their friends’ unconventional behaviors and begin to suspect that something is terribly wrong.
This is a very entertaining film that builds an increasingly tense atmosphere over the course of its entire runtime. The tension never completely lets up at any point in the story primarily due to the fantastic performance by James McAvoy. His character is so believably unhinged that his presence alone is fear-inducing, even when everything else seems fine at that moment. While the story itself doesn’t really offer anything new and can be fairly predictable, its presentation and tone still make the film enjoyable to watch. The overall pacing is quite slow, so a majority of the film feels very drawn out, but the final act is incredibly riveting and makes the whole experience worth while.
I recommend Speak No Evil to anyone who enjoys intense and thrilling movies that prioritize atmosphere over narrative. It provides an excellent overwhelming and claustrophobic experience that’s perfect for watching at the cinema this time of year.
Speak No Evil is now playing in theaters. Click here to watch the Official Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper