Speak No Evil, a fresh remake that builds on the original

It is easier to discuss a remake of a film by thinking of the usual tired arguments. With Christian Tafdru’s Speak No Evil, the credits had barely rolled and news of a remake was announced. With Blumhouse Studios at the helm, expectations were raised. The studio has a strong track record of producing solid genre flicks however the past year has seen more critical misses than hits. With James Watkins attached to write and direct, fans of his earlier work Eden Lake were right to be optimistic about his vision. He has a track record of making yuppies suffer, after all.

While on holiday in Italy with their daughter, Americans Ben (Scott McNairy) and Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davies) befriend Paddy( James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) an English couple residing in the same resort with their son. Paddy and Ben hit it off with the former offering the London-based couple the opportunity to escape the city and relax in the English countryside. Ben and Louise’s marriage is going through a rocky patch and despite Louise’s hesitations, they agree to take their new friends up on the offer. Unfortunately, Louise’s concerns manifest in ways she couldn’t dream up in her worst nightmares as the idyllic getaway turns into a battle of survival.

What starts as an understated horror turns into a boiling pot of suspense as Paddy’s true personality bubbles to the surface. His slight idiosyncrasies quickly escalate into violent outbursts with his son Ant being the main focus of his aggression. McAvoy excels in the role as Watkins keeps him tethered, allowing him to unleash his psychopathic rage in bursts at the right time before letting him loose in the brutal third act. Franciosi is subtly duplicitous in her role as the loyal wife. Her motivations never appear clear and she keeps you guessing if she’s a willing partner to Paddy’s insanity or another victim.

The children excel in their roles and are in many ways the driving factors of the film. Dan Hough’s Ant is mute, described as having a rare condition meaning he was born with a small tongue. Communicating with eerie facial expressions he plays the part of the creepy kid to a T. Alix West Lefler is a prime motivator for the plot Agnes grows closer to her troubled new friend, struggling to understand the darkness that hangs over the farm.

While horror movies have a history of audiences screaming at the characters to get out, there’s an uneasy familiarity to be shared with Ben and Louise’s predicament. It is not uncommon to go against our gut instinct and ignore the warning signs to avoid offending someone. Along with being charming and apologetic, Paddy is a very imposing figure, both mentally and physically, and this exposes McNairy’s slender city-slicker frame and mindset.

With Tafdru’s movie still fresh in the memory, fans of it may approach the 2024 effort with trepidation and scepticism. Thankfully Watkins keeps things fresh enough that it doesn’t become a rushed rehash at the expense of the source material. Some scenes are recreated almost word for word, however, there are key differences in plot points, motivations, and performances to appeal to fans of the original. Whether they prefer the changes is entirely up to them.

Speak No Evil is a solid horror that although less subtle in places, makes up for it with a constant dread that permeates throughout. With captivating performances and the best rendition of Eternal Flame you’ll hear this year, Speak No Evil brings some fear in the runup to Halloween and proves that remakes aren’t always a bad thing.