User reviews

James Mcevoy stole the show. His performance blurs the lines between being charismatic and charming to unnerving and sinister. The remake of the Danish film with the same title follows in its footsteps for most of the film however, does differ in the final act.

The original film I believe takes it to a level that makes it different and memorable. The remake struggles to get to the unhinging and downright terrifying moments in the third act that they original created (Especially the ending scene in the quarry).

However, the remake it does offer a new twist to the original. A different setting on an English farm which boasts a different type of scenery from the original as well as an American family being the guests.

This movie provides some special moments where the viewers are cringing (in a good way) at the conversations that the couples are having. Definitely makes you feel uneasy, specially when you know the nature of the hosts intentions.

I just feel like the final act was a bit too Hollywood, in the sense of the families actions and ultimate conclusion to the film. However, I will say that the remake does enough to warrant enough for its creation thoroughly helped by a special performance by James and his fellow cast members.

Enjoyable :))

The Wicker Man (1973), The Vanishing (1988), Speak No Evil (2022) - three exceptionally good European horror movies with chillingly dark endings. All of them have been remade by American film studios and this is the latest. I'm trying to imagine the thinking behind the process: 1. This movie has been really successful but it's foreign. 2. Americans don't watch foreign films. 3. If we remake it as an American film Americans will watch it. 4. The ending though! It's really dark. We need to rewrite that and give it an ending people will enjoy more! - Wrong, wrong, wrong! I like James McAvoy and he's excellent in this movie, easily switching between charismatically charming and unsettlingly sinister. All the actors are good. The film is coherent. The plot holds. It's suitably tense with an undeniably exciting finale. On balance it's a fine film but it's been stripped of many of the elements that made the original a success. There was a time, notably the '70s, when America made genuinely outstanding original horror films - The Exorcist, Halloween, The Omen, Carrie - but those days seem long gone. I honestly can't fault this film and I enjoyed it but I'd urge anyone to seek out the originals and enjoy what made them different.

I just watched the new version of Speak No Evil and in typical fashion the Americanized version just had to change the ending that made the original absolutely incredible to watch as a horrorholic.

I didn't hate the 2024 version but it didn't have nearly the tension of the first. It didn't make you as angry as the first. It didn't make you wanna strangle all the actors like the first. And it didn't make you feel anything for the characters like the first.

As much as you can hate stupid naivety or pure evil in characters you still felt something for all of them in the first. The first 10/10 the second 6/10. And that's generous because it wasn't as awful as it could have been but really watch the original if you really want a good movie experience that will leave you reeling instead of oh well that happened.

No I'm not talking about McAvoy, but we'll get to that.

First act: The setup is masterful. Nothing big happens this entire act, yet I found myself smiling and intrigued. It's a perfect example of how you can still create intrigue without needing action, or even worse, without having an opening scene that spoils what happens later in the movie.

Second act: Okay, now the lack of anything big happening is becoming a detriment. We should be seeing some escalation, but it just feels like a lot more setup.

Third act: Escalation finally arrives, but not enough. The potential doesn't reach the heights to make it memorable. And there are a couple of idiotic character decision. One almost made me facepalm in the theater.

As for the husband played by Scoot McNairy, I'm not sure if I've ever seen a lamer husband in my life. I know it was intentional and it didn't hurt my enjoyment, but all I kept thinking is, "Man up, you little...."

Overall, this was a mildly enjoyable, single-viewing type of movie. The reason I feel disappointed is because it could have been awesome if they "went for it" more. But McAvoy is a beast.

(1 viewing, opening night 9/12/2024)

I have seen the original version by mistake! I started that movie in a boring day with a need of watching a movie, horror especially and i choose this danish horror: "Speak no evil" and i was really impressed by this flick! Lots of suspense, lots of creepy scenes, dark, gritty and in a final: brutal and upsetting!

Now, i have watched this at an avanpremiere here in my country waiting something similar(i mean, duuh, it's a remake) but i have noticed that this one has more minutes in it: the original have 1hour and 37 minutes length and this one 1 hour and 50 minutes thinking they put some new scene in it but noooo! Much more talking and the movie seems more easy take on violence and brutality! The original movie was much more brutal(at least the final scene), this one it's more like a hard PG13 than an R rated one! James McAvoy give us a top notch performance and even the little girl's acting along with the little boy are very decent..but the movie missing the type of tension(there is tension in this one as well) from the original! Not a bad movie, but a mediocre one with some changes from the original! 6.5 out of 10 from me!

Finally, a win for Blumhouse after a year of mid-tier flicks and straight-up duds. Who would've thought the studio's saving grace would be an American remake of a film that's barely two years old-and already 80% in English? But here we are. The key difference? This version is infinitely better, less frustrating, and dare I say, actually satisfying.

James McAvoy-what a powerhouse. Honestly, just put this guy in every horror movie from now on, especially if he's the villain. He's so good at it, you can almost hear him whispering, "Watch me steal every damn scene." And, of course, he does. Every. Time.

Speak No Evil is easily one of the best horror films of the year, in my opinion. The biggest improvement?

Characters that actually deserve to be rooted for.

Well, okay, they're a little dumb in the first third, but at least they smarten up before you lose all hope except for one particular individual. Blumhouse, take a bow-you've finally done something right!

While this version had scenes of good suspense and tension like the original, it seriously fell down in the last quarter and turned into a teen horror film with drawn out and boring cat and mouse scenes that culminated in a lot of nothing. A very predictable and uninspiring ending in the rewrite, collapsing the same way every American horror movie does. Ultimately this movie had very little to say and won't linger in your memory the way the original does. All it has to offer is the promise of a family secret, which once revealed, and in such a desperate way, has no idea where to go and falls flat.

No pun intended - if you have seen the European original (that is not even 2 years old), you may understand what I am trying to convey. To watch this, it probably makes sense not to have seen it - one might think! Yet while watching this (and it mainly seems to stick to the blueprint), this movie seems to try to "correct" things that some did not like in the original ... the son being one of those things ... illness can be difficult to deal with ... your situation makes you lose passion ... or could make you lose. Not here - and it is elevating the movie.

Same is true for James McAvoy ... he really is quite the heart of the movie. His performance is subtle and great at the same time. I don't remember every little aspect of the original and I don't want to offend the original players ... so let's just say he is awesome in this.

Acting and script overall work greatly, with some added twists and turns ... even if the tweaks at first might not seem that consequential ... but in the end (literally) we do get something different ... for better or worse! I like it - 1) because it is different from the original and 2) because it is more fitting to the movie and the characters this has to offer! I was skeptical, but this is as good as the original ... for different reasons! Don't throw stones at me ...

Topic says it all. I really was curious how Hollywood would adapt the original, as it was one of the best real-horror flicks i have seen in years and one with a message. I still rate this remake with 6 stars, because everything was good: especially the actors, the screenplay etc., but the end is awfully bad compared to the original. If the original movie (crew) had the money and the actors from the remake, then it would have been something, you would not forget in years.

Hollywood simply has no balls to do such a movie, instead it created something that is pretty fast forgotten. Moreover it completely misses the message and the feeling you have, after the ending of the original movie. So it is just a cliche ending so typical for Hollywood, it makes me sad.

A pretty good movie from start to finish right from the jump we are introduced to all characters involved pretty much 2 different families that end up befriending each other it seems random and you can feel something is a tad bit off as one couples seems eccentric and kind of different there are psychological games played between the 2 couples in particular whom both have children and what starts as a family get away with new friends turns into a nightmare with a couple of twist that shock you stellar performances from all cast and James Mcavoy never misses he's just a great villain so to speak if you haven't seen and like a thriller tha keeps you on your toes definitely check it out and it has a satisfying enough ending offically rate it 7.1 out of 10.

Definitely worth viewing at the cinema - had such a blast watching this film!

The slow start is never boring as it carefully lets out clues that there's something deeply wrong going on, although you can't yet pinpoint what it is. You, as well as the guests, want to like those characters, even though they seem more and more obnoxious, and you wouldn't dare to be rude.

I was surprised at how much humor there is in this, yet it doesn't undermine the tension, that builds up like fire throughout the film. On the contrary, it makes it all more eerie and unsettling.

Without realising, you've been on the edge of your seat the whole time, just waiting for the inevitable to happen, yet praying that it doesn't. And then, when it's finally all loose, the third act pays off handsomely.

Mcavoy is insanely good in this movie and his range is what fuels the several emotions you go through while watching. The film revolves around him, around his ability to hook both the characters and the viewer, only to scare them out of their minds.

Speak No Evil is a 2024 psychological horror remake starring James Mcavoy as Paddy, a English father who invites a American family to come to their house and relax, however not everything is all it seems from the new Blumhouse feature.

While getting most of the aspects on point from the 2022 foreign film of the same name, Speak No Evil does create a good level of tension while exploding into a violent climax which is a good aspect regarding the film's strong point as a psychological horror flick. The American family are very likable and very realistic when it comes to some of the more tense scenes of threat, you do really sympathise with them in general and throughout most of the runtime you do also get to see some of what there views are on the other English family. At first they think it's a new way of bonding with their new home but as the film progresses there perspectives slowly change and it makes you think if they will ever recover from the horrific things they have witnessed so far which does add a level of clarity and dread to the film's dark tone and that's very good.

Acting-wise, very top notch for a Blumhouse feature nowadays as James Mcavoy really is quite terrifying but funny at the same time. He is very identical. He reminds me of Jack Torrance from The Shining, very maniacal and twisted figure that has his comedic elements scattered throughout, I thought this was quite a interesting thing that I might notice but I think Paddy was a little bit different though just because of his charming aspect rather than a downward spiral of Jack's character's.

Overall, while quite a solid entry into the Blumhouse library, the fatal flaw of this thriller is the lack of homage to the original film which really should be respected, but it seems like this entry does completely avoid some aspects which a remake shouldn't do unless it has a good reason to. But it's still a worthy, fun watch for a evening night.

Grade: A Next film: Big shark.

A holiday overseas with wife and daughter, leads to friendship (with another family of three) when out on a sunny saunter, back at home a card arrives, come and see how well we thrive, spend a night or three within, our bricks and mortar. You take up the invitation and set off, unaware of just how this couple like to trough, or indeed how they behave, and the trinkets that they crave, if you did, it may just cause a mighty scoff. It's fair to say that your encounter's like no other, it doesn't end in the same way as Danish brother (or sister), which is a shame as that was better, it was unshackled and unfettered, leaving the viewer with more than, drainpipes and a gutter.

James McAvoy is brilliant, alas the ending isn't - watch the Danish version for that.

I watched the original Speak No Evil on Shudder last year, to call that film a uniuque experience would be an understatement. I went to the cinema to watch the 'American' remake and I was pleasantly surprised. I was pleasantly surprised because they took the winning formula of the original version and took some of their own turns with it. James McEvoy makes a great antagonist as we have seen in the past, great performance. If you have watched this film and enjoyed it, I would strongly advise watching the original. It is much the same in how it plays out from the outset, but is a lot more grounded, realistic and gritty, also the ending of the original is better from a horror perspective.

Even though James is one of my favourite film actors, I couldn't help but getting bored while watching this movie. It runs for almost 2 hrs, I kept looking into my watch and phone to see how long does the movie left.

Maybe my fault is that I've watched the original movie before, so I already know how the story goes.

James is the only factor I watch it and keep me from falling asleep inside the cinema. He did well portraying Paddy as a total jerk, i can't stand him at all. He's the type of person I'd constantly rolled my eyes and left him the seconds he opened his mouth. Good job James!

Maybe another contributor that I don't like this movie is the fact this kind of genre is just not my taste. There are a few stupid move/ decisions taken throughout the move from the guest and I can't help but annoyed by them.

6 stars just for James McAvoy and the casts, but nothing special with the stories.

It's hard to get it right with this kind of subject matter. Make it too dramatic or funny or scary and you lose believability and realism. Make it too realistic and you lose the edginess. This film actually manages to strike the (almost) perfect balance. And it forces you to engage a whole range of emotions: from edge-of-your-seat suspense to a chilling despair to uncontrollable laughter (simply because you can somehow relate or feel their awkwardness). The actors and actresses are superb, especially the young Dan Hough as Ant; he manages an incredibly challenging, non-verbal part with aplomb. An excellent film.

An overacted Netflix-brained version of the original, apparently for audiences that can't detect subtlety or watch a movie with 20% subtitles.

The casting overall was actually pretty good, especially McAvoy who, despite being perfect for the role and making the best of what he was given, made little impact on the end product.

Much of the charm of the original was its realism - the facade of normalcy slowly and painfully being chipped away by the sinister reality lurking beneath. It kept the audience in suspense and second-guessing their own suspicions.

This on the other hand offered little tact. The cultural dynamics of the original, between the polite Danes and roudy Dutchman, were completely lost and substituted for over the top reveals and cheap attempts at producing shock value.

The ending is a perfect encapsulation of the overall changes made in this film. While the imagery of the original's ending was uniquely haunting, this version's felt like watching a scene from Home Alone.

Worth a watch considering it's better than most films in the genre, but I would strongly recommend watching the original first.

So I was excited to watch this movie that is apparently a remake and not an original.

I haven't watched the original so i couldn't compare.

Based on this movie alone, the build up from the beginning until about 75% of the movie was underwhelming.

James McAvoy is James McAvoy. He is an artist but the storyline was all over the place for me. Sorry.

I honestly got a bit bored 60 mins in I have to say.

I also would've loved more intensity in most of the scenes.

It was very monotone.

The movie was building up and building up and building up in an annoying way that in the end you feel like okay? Is that it? Okay cool.😂

A couple actually left the theater 45 mins in.

The movie basically becomes a bit interesting the last 30 mins?

All the plots are forthcoming. Nothing surprising.

Not sure how it got an overall rating of a 7 but that's none of my business..

Would I watch it again? Unlikely.

Did it make me want to watch the original? Yes.

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