Tolstoy once famously said in Anna Karenina that all happy families are alike, but the unhappy ones are each unhappy in their own way. Speak No Evil puts that theory to the test. The movie centers around Ben and Louise Dalton, portrayed by Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis, an affluent American couple living in London. They embark on a family vacation to Italy, accompanied by their anxious yet endearing daughter, Agnes (Alix West Lefler), all while grappling with their relationship troubles.
During their holiday, they encounter Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), a carefree and adventurous couple who seem to embody a zest for life. Despite having a young son with a speech-affecting disability (played impressively by Dan Hough), Paddy and Ciara manage to exude an enviable spontaneity that Ben and Louise can’t seem to replicate. When they’re invited to the couple’s countryside home in the West Country, the Daltons jump at the chance, envisioning an escape into a more invigorating, rustic way of life.
The catch? They don’t realize they’re in a horror film. The Daltons mistakenly believe they're in a European drama, where perhaps the biggest risk would be emotional entanglements or awkward moments from poorly thought-out couple’s games. Little do they know that Speak No Evil is based on a 2022 Danish film known for its disturbing twist. While this American remake softens the original's bleakness slightly, it still delivers a chilling, thought-provoking narrative, now laced with added social commentary.
James McAvoy’s performance is the movie’s greatest draw. While the Danish version of Speak No Evil may delve deeper into the darkness, it didn’t have McAvoy, whose portrayal of Paddy adds layers of complexity. His easy charm and witty banter initially mask a much more sinister character, a shift that’s both gradual and shocking. By the time Ben and Louise grasp that something is amiss, it’s far too late. McAvoy’s chilling performance evokes memories of notorious figures like Ted Bundy—proving that while manners might be free, they guarantee nothing about the person behind them.
In this eerie, unsettling take on family dynamics, Speak No Evil takes familiar territory and plunges it into a new depth of horror.
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