Speak No Evil (2024) Delivers Tension and Horror

We need to escape from these bizarre people - they have deadly intentions.

Speak No Evil is a 2024 adaptation of the 2022 Danish film. The Daltons are invited to spend a weekend with a family they met over their vacation. From the moment they arrive, the family’s behavior is unsettling, with their stories and history not matching up. The Daltons have several opportunities to leave but find themselves trapped.

Talk about a tense and bone-chilling tale. This movie serves as a warning about the dangers of strangers on your travels. I have never seen the original Danish version of Speak No Evil, so I viewed it as a standalone. While Speak No Evil is a well-acted psychological thriller, it struggles with pacing issues.

How does James McAvoy do it? His ability to transform from completely normal behavior into a genuinely terrifying person is incredible. His Oscar nomination is long overdue at this point! McAvoy is the best performance in the film, studying numerous aspects of his character, to make him more menacing.

Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis portray Ben and Louise Dalton, the unlucky guests. They have several opportunities to leave and voice their opinions but don’t. Their characters are frustrating, but mostly Ben who doesn’t make the right decisions. Davis on the other hand, man, does she have a knack for acting terrified!

Aisling Franciosi plays Paddy’s wife, Caira. Although she is involved in heinous events, her character is ambiguous. Caira doesn’t get a lot of focus from Paddy who chews the scenery. I wanted to know more about her past.

Alex West Lefler and Dan Hough are excellent as the children. Hough, in particular, shines in a non-verbal role, delivering a commendable performance. Both kids have distinct stories but ultimately lead the adults. That detail should not be overlooked.

James Watkins avoids making this film a carbon copy of the Danish film and tweaks certain elements and characters. He deliberately painted a slightly different film that focuses more on humor, which is added in awkward moments or in visual edits.

Here’s my main pick. The Daltons suspect something is up several times and don’t want to be rude to leave. I found myself talking to the screen a lot, even uttering, ‘Oh, you just ruined your chances.’ Conversations about leaving or how weird the other family is keep repeating.

Scenes like the hosts joking about their occupations or scolding their son during the dance could have happened earlier, instead of prolonging the situation. The middle half could have led up quicker to the riveting finale.

Once the twist is uncovered (which is spoiled in the trailer) you are in for a terrifying game of hide-n-seek with guns and manipulation. It’s a satisfying climax as the chaos and violence are rewarding from the film’s slow pace. The final scene is shocking with different revelations.

Speak No Evil was filmed in the United Kingdom, filming in Malvern Hills, Worcestershire. Production for the film was relatively easy, though it was briefly shut down due to the actor's and writer's strikes.

This movie made me anxious. Most of the situations are awkward and will make you uncomfortable. Speak No Evil is an effective horror film that made me gasp and my leg jumped up from the seat. Aside from the horror, I had a good time with it.

I saw Speak No Evil in theaters with a small audience who were fully engaged during the whole experience. I was mesmerized by James McAvoy and the terrors he inflicts. It’s worth seeing for his performance. Avoid looking up spoilers and see it in theaters.