In 2022, the Danish psychological thriller, Speak No Evil was released, shown in various film festivals, winning a few awards, and was nominated for more. It became one of the most talked about films and found its way to more countries. Now in 2024, an American adaptation of Speak No Evil is showing in cinemas worldwide, directed by James Watkins and starring James McAvoy, Scoot McNair, Mackenzie Davis and more.

While on vacation in Italy, an American couple, Ben, and Louise Dalton with their daughter Agnes, meet and befriend a British couple, Paddy and Ciara with their son Ant who cannot speak, which Paddy explains is a condition called ankyloglossia. After both families return home, Paddy and Ciara invite the Dalton family to visit and stay with them in their home in the UK. Ben and Louise accept and eventually arrive to find a luxurious countryside home surrounded by breathtaking scenery, getting them excited for their stay.

Despite how amazing everything is, the Daltons constantly find themselves in many awkward and uncomfortable situations, but also plenty of good times that make the trip worth it. When Paddy’s erratic behaviour and his and Ciara’s questionable parenting methods become too much, Ben and Louise decide to leave early, but simply leaving isn’t as easy as they hoped.

James McAvoy is undoubtedly the biggest standout. He’s no stranger to playing unhinged characters and fits in perfectly in this psychological thriller. Even though it’s clear that he’s the main antagonist, it’s what he does in the film that keeps audiences engaged to see what happens next. At first, he comes across as friendly and charming, though a little brash, but that brashness soon becomes the worst part of the trip for the Daltons.

He’s also cunning and clever, always thinking two steps ahead to keep the Daltons in their home. James McAvoy gets to show his diverse acting range and puts in a performance that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Aisling Franciosi stars as Paddy’s wife, Ciara. She’s the more polite and easygoing of the two but also does certain things that rub the Dalton family the wrong way. She plays a much smaller role in the film, but still plays her part well and will get audiences curious about what lies behind her sweet and loveable nature.

Scoot McNair and Mackenzie Davis portray Ben and Louise, respectively. They’re your average American couple with their relationship struggles. They have a different approach when it comes to their daughter’s anxiety. Ben is more direct, impatient, and less understanding while Louise is more loving, caring, and takes the time to keep Agnes calm. Despite their challenges, they still care deeply for each other and their relationship gets tested even more when they need to figure out how to get away from Paddy and Ciara.

Their daughter, Agnes, is played by Alix West Lefler. She’s 11 years old, suffers from severe anxiety and has a plush bunny named Hoppy to help keep her calm and not scratch herself aggressively. Her anxiety becomes worse throughout the movie, even becoming a detriment. She also has moments where she can handle some tough situations and is smarter than she might think. Audiences will experience the genuine fear and confusion of Agnes, Ben, and Louise.

Paddy and Ciara’s son, Ant, is portrayed by Dan Hough who is roughly the same age as Agnes and unable to speak due to his condition. He also doesn’t seem to be able to read or write either, making communication difficult, which complicates matters as he tries to tell Daltons something important.

They can’t understand him, and he immediately acts normally again when he sees his parents. Dan’s performance is a perfect example of action, speaking louder than words as he tries to reveal the truth and his interactions with his father show signs of child abuse.

Speak No Evil is a film full of mystery and shocking moments. Its focus isn’t to reveal the plot twist of the real villain, but the bone-chilling context behind it. There are moments where it feels like the pacing might start to drag, but then something happens to keep audiences watching and see what happens next. It relies heavily on the plot and audiences will be shocked at what they see. Many films today can be predictable, but it’s difficult to foresee what some scenes may lead into and keep you guessing.

It is not a film for the faint of heart, as many scenes, especially with child actors involved, can be uncomfortable to watch. It can feel like the brutal scenes are for the sake of being brutal, but the intention is not for audiences to enjoy what happens to the Daltons, but instead to sympathise with them. The film has some jump-scare moments but doesn’t rely on them. It focuses on building up tension and sending shivers down your spine. Even the simplest details and things that the main characters don’t see themselves can make you feel tense and anxious.

Comparing it to the original Danish version, it has the same overall premise, but also plenty of differences and changes that set the two apart. It isn’t a one-for-one copy, so it’s interesting to watch both films and see what’s changed.

Whether the Danish original or American remake is better, is up to each individual and how much they can handle. The Danish version is certainly the more brutal and shocking of the two, so it’s best to keep that in mind if you’re interested in looking it up. The American version has some creative ideas to distinguish itself, executes things differently, and has a different ending.

The cinematography is done so well to convince audiences why the Daltons accept an invitation from a couple they barely know, trust them, and travel so far to the countryside to stay at their seemingly beautiful home. The house itself is like the perfect dream home sitting amongst gorgeous scenery that many wish they could afford but gives you the feeling it may have some dark secrets.

The scenes at night of course add to the creepy atmosphere, but even scenes in broad daylight can be just as eerie and spine-tingling. Some familiar popular songs can be heard, but listening to ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ by Rednex has never felt so uncomfortable with the scene it’s used in.

James McAvoy puts in a chilling performance. Speak No Evil is best described as the holiday from hell. Despite being a remake of an award-winning Danish film, it has its creative ideas while keeping the same overall premise. It could get audiences curious and look up the original Danish film to compare the two. For audiences looking for a psychological thriller that will keep them on the edge of their seats anticipating what happens next, Speak No Evil is exactly that.

Written by: Sammy Hanson