Major spoilers ahead for Speak No Evil. You’ve been warned.
*
*
Hollywood has a long history of remaking foreign movies, especially horror flicks. Some have been fairly successful, like The Ring (2002), based on Japan’s Ringu (1998), Quarantine (2008) based on Spain’s Rec (2007), or Let Me In (2010), based on Sweden’s Let the Right One In (2008). Denmark’s Speak No Evil came out in 2022 and has quickly become a cult favorite. But just because a flick can be remade doesn’t mean it should be. So the real question is, did it really need to be remade?
RELATED: AfrAId Spoiler Review
Like the original, the story begins in Italy, where we meet a nice American family on vacation. There’s Mom Louise (Terminator: Dark Fate’s Mackenzie Davis), Dad Ben (Scoot McNairy) and tween daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler). Ben and Louise are what most consider a pretty typical “American” couple. That is to say, uptight helicopter parents. As they sit out at the resort’s small pool, Ben and Louise remind Agnes to use her “indoor voice” and stress about the fact that even though she’s 12, Agnes still desperately needs her stuffed bunny, Hoppy. They watch another couple acting rowdy and free with some shock and disapproval.
At dinner, where all the guests eat at a long, communal table, Ben and Louise pretend to be interested in a Danish couple who always sits next to them, endlessly going on about the cooking classes they’re taking. The next day, while out sightseeing, Agnes loses track of Hoppy. Ben tries to hide how pissed off he is, having to be the one to go look for it.
He returns with no luck – but they happen to meet up with the rowdy couple from the pool, Paddy (X-Men’s James McAvoy), his wife Ciara (Last Voyage of the Demeter’s Aisling Franciosi) and their young son, Ant (Dan Hough), who’s mute from a condition called aglossia (born with no tongue). Turns out, they found Hoppy and would love to have lunch with them. Paddy even takes Agnes on a Vespa ride (which Louise freaks out about the whole time).
While they’re hanging out, Ben and Louise tell Paddy and Ciara that they’ve relocated to London for Ben’s work. Louise has given up her career to make the move but is planning to find a new job. Paddy and Ciara invite them to come visit them out in the rural “west country” where they have a farm. Paddy also says he’s a doctor and has worked with Doctors Without Borders. And though he and Louise have a joking-but-not-really discussion about her being a vegetarian, everyone gets along famously.
RELATED: Alien: Romulus Spoiler Review
When they get back home to London, Ben finds out he didn’t get the job he was hoping for. He also keeps harping on Agnes’ reliance on Hoppy. He’s also pissed that Louise doesn’t seem as concerned about it. Digging through the mail, Louise finds a postcard from Paddy and Ciara, reminding them of their standing invitation. Even though Louise is more uneasy about spending a weekend with people they barely know, Ben really wants to go. So they decide to go for it.
When Ben, Louise and Agnes arrive at Paddy and Ciara’s farm, they’re instantly wowed by their quaint countryside home. But once they see their accommodations, they’re much less impressed. Agnes has to sleep on the floor in Ant’s room, whose mutism makes things even more awkward. The stained sheets on their bed gross Ben and Louise out, but they decide to make the best of it.
Paddy’s cooked dinner, their prize goose, Libby. He slices a piece off and practically force feeds vegetarian Louise. She politely eats but spits it out as soon as they’re not looking. Then Ant follows Ben outside while he’s taking out the trash. Ant tries to show that his tongue’s been cut off, but Ben doesn’t understand.
Then later, as the grownups are all hanging out, they hear Ant wailing like a baby up in his room. Louise offers to go check on him, but Paddy swears it’s just his nightly habit. And a few seconds later, the wailing does stop, but it’s still weird. The next day, they all head out for a hike in the woods. There’s a swing that Agnes wants to use but Ant stands in her way. Paddy steps up and roughly snatches him out of the way.
RELATED: Longlegs Spoiler Review
Louise tries to stretch out her stiff neck, and Paddy suggests a remedy. They head to a nearby lake and Paddy and Ciara strip down, ready to jump off the rocks. Ben, Louise and Agnes say they don’t have suits, but then reluctantly join in. Ant flounders in the water, clearly unable to swim. But Paddy says he’s learning the same way he did when he was a kid – sink or swim.
That night, the adults get ready to go out for dinner. Louise and Ben are concerned when they meet the babysitter, some random dude named Muhjid (Motaz Malhees). But Paddy and Ciara insist he’s a great guy, and the kids seem to like him.
While enjoying a meal cooked by a local chef named Mike (Kris Hitchen), Paddy and Ciara talk freely about their active sex life. Louise makes a joke that Ben’s lucky to get it once a month, embarrassing him. Then Ciara and Paddy play an uncomfortable prank on them with Ciara pretending to give Paddy a blow job under the table. And then when the bill needs to be paid – Ben takes a look at the check, and Paddy assumes he’s paying. He walks out with Ciara, leaving Ben and Louise looking at each other like, “What the hell?”
Meanwhile, back at the farm, while supposedly playing Hide & Seek with Muhjid, Ant leads Agnes to Paddy and Ciara’s room. He shows her a drawer full of expensive men’s watches. He picks one out, showing her the Danish inscription on the back – and a man’s name that’s not Paddy. But Agnes doesn’t understand. Once back in his bedroom, Ant lifts up his shirt, showing her all the bruises and scars he has. Then they have to quickly pretend to be sleeping when Ciara and Louise look in on them.
While getting ready for bed, Ben tells Louise how upset he is about the “once a month” remark. They quickly get into an argument over a situation where one of Louise’s friends sent her a dick pic. But they both eventually cool down and hug it out – while Paddy eavesdrops.
RELATED: MaXXXine Spoiler Review
Later, Louise gets up to check on Agnes – only to find both her bed and Ant’s empty. She finally finds them in bed with Paddy and Ciara (both sleeping in skimpy undies). Louise snatches Agnes up and takes her back to their room.
In the early morning, Louise tells Ben about it and says they should leave. They manage to quietly slip out and drive off. But they soon discover that Hoppy’s missing. Ben tries to get Agnes to forget about it, but she gets so freaked out and angry that she kicks the back of Ben’s seat, and they barely escape a head-on collision with a truck.
Ben and Louise realize that they’re stuck going back. They face an upset Paddy and Ciara, hurt that they left without saying goodbye. Louise explains about finding Agnes in bed with them. Ciara puts on a tearful display, saying they had a daughter who died, and that Agnes was crying for them and they didn’t hear it. Feeling guilty and embarrassed, Ben and Louise decide to stay.
While the guys go fox hunting, Louise and Ciara stay with the kids. Sitting decorating eggs a little ways away from them, Ant writes a note to Agnes. But she can’t understand it since it’s in Danish. He tries to explain but then he hears Ciara coming and Agnes is stunned as she watches Ant stuff the note in his mouth and eat it.
Meanwhile, Ben’s trying to be a manly man and shoot the fox he’s got in his sights – but he can’t bring himself to do it. Paddy leads Ben out farther away, far enough that they can’t see anyone in any direction. Paddy starts screaming like a banshee, primal, deep and stress-relieving. Ben joins in, releasing all that American uptightness, and the two of them have a grand old, manly bonding moment.
While they’re eating, Ciara picks on Agnes for not eating her veggies and chewing with her mouth open. Louise gets upset with Ciara, who apologizes. But then Paddy makes Louise apologize too. Another uncomfortable moment that Paddy chalks up to his insistence that everyone be honest with each other.
RELATED: Movie Review: Deadpool & Wolverine
Then the kids show off a dance they came up with for that wonderfully awful song by Rednex, “Cotton-Eyed Joe.” It’s adorable, but Paddy gets increasingly upset with Ant’s lack of rhythm. He makes them start it over and over again, getting angrier each time. Ben and Louise have to step in, and it turns into a shouting match until Paddy finally admits he’s had too much to drink and needs a nap.
While Paddy’s passed out, Ant skillfully manages to get his keys off his belt. Then he goes back out and takes Agnes to one of the sheds. He unlocks the door in the floor and leads her into a cellar where there’s a trove of suitcases, cell phones, clothes, etc., all belonging to other people. Ant pulls out a photo album and shows Agnes all the photos of Paddy and Ciara – with other couples, and other kids.
Agnes doesn’t understand at first, but then Ant opens his mouth and makes the motion that tells Agnes his tongue was cut out. Agnes looks at the photos again and realizes that Ant is not Paddy and Ciara’s kid. And she realizes that all of the stuff in the cellar belongs to other families that Paddy and Ciara have done this to.
Most importantly, she realizes that her family’s next. She takes pictures with her cell phone of the photo album and then they hurry back outside, doing their best to put everything back the way it was. Ant takes the keys back, but Paddy’s already awake. Ant’s a clever kid, though, and manages to slip the keys back on Paddy’s belt by asking for a piggyback ride.
Meanwhile, Agnes cuts herself to create a little emergency where she can get Louise alone in the bathroom. She shows Louise the photos, and then Ben joins them. Agnes pleads with them to take Ant with them. Louise says they have to be calm, and not let on that they know anything. Louise finds a box cutter in a cabinet and keeps it in her pocket.
RELATED: Movie Review: Twisters
They all come out of the bathroom with the story that Agnes has gotten her first period. She’s upset and scared, and Ben and Louise say they should just head home. Paddy and Ciara seem to buy the story but when they go to their car, Ben and Louise discover that they have a flat tire. The guys fix the tire and discover that Hoppy has somehow ended up on the roof.
There’s a tense moment as Ben climbs the long ladder and Paddy “spots” him but nearly sends him over. Then, Hoppy’s been retrieved, Ben, Louise and Agnes pile in the car. Ben asks Ant to open the gate (so he can go with them), but Paddy has the remote. Ben starts driving away, saying they’ll figure some way to get Ant – but then he sees Paddy grabbing Ant and tossing him in the pond.
Knowing Ant can’t swim, Ben jumps out and runs back to get him. Louise jumps in the driver’s seat and tries to keep going but Paddy shuts the gate. By the time Ben gets Ant out of the water, Paddy’s got Louise and Agnes at gunpoint.
Paddy and Ciara drag them all into a shed and force Louise to transfer all of their money over to them via cell phone. Then accomplice Chef Mike turns up and holds a gun on them while Paddy prepares a syringe full of Ketamine for Agnes. But then Louise uses the box cutter to slash Paddy’s face, and they all make a run for it.
They end up having to go back to the house, and barricade themselves inside. They try making a Molotov cocktail to throw onto the thatched roof. But when Ben throws it, it rolls off the roof and onto Paddy’s car instead. Then they hide the kids inside a closet and tell them not to come out.
Paddy, Mike and Ciara all take different routes into the house. Ben fights Mike, who almost overpowers him, but then Louise smashes his head with a hammer. Paddy looks around the bathroom, thinking he’s got the kids in the closet. But when he opens it, he just finds Agnes’ phone playing her anti-anxiety breathing thing. Then Louise nails him in the face with drain cleaner, severely burning his face.
RELATED: Book Review: Horror for Weenies
Ben, Louise and Agnes head out through the kids’ bedroom window and start down the ladder. Ciara catches up with them, but then Louise clocks her in the head, sending her tumbling off the roof to her death. With the ladder gone, Ben has to jump down. He injures his leg but gets the ladder back up. Louise and the kids climb down, and they almost get away.
But then Paddy gets a hold of Agnes, saying he’s keeping her since Ciara’s dead and there’s no one to care for him. Agnes jabs him with the Ketamine syringe, finally bringing him down. But before they leave, Ant goes back to him and grabs a brick. Paddy’s surprisingly proud that Ant’s manned up – and then he smashes Paddy’s face in, screaming with rage.
As they drive off, Agnes gives Hoppy to Ant, knowing he needs it more than she does.
***
I’ve seen the original Speak No Evil a couple of times. And while I do think it’s a decent flick, it’s got some issues. It’s much more psychological and understated, which is not a bad thing at all. But it’s also on the draggy side with hardly any action. And the worst part is that the original “good guys” couple is wimpy and milquetoasty, to the point of cowardice. To the point where they allow themselves to be killed, rather than overcoming their fears.
So when I heard the flick was going to be remade, I had to wonder how much of that original vibe it would keep. Because I know that part of what makes the flick unique is that couple’s passiveness. I suppose that the main point of the flick is the tragedy of such good people never gaining enough confidence to stand up for themselves. But since I also feel like that’s the flick’s biggest problem, I had to wonder how much I would really like a remake.
Thankfully, the remake takes the original’s vibe and does away with that frustrating inaction. Ben and Louise are similarly meek, but when it comes down to it, they’re willing to fight to defend themselves. Which takes the story in a different direction, but it’s a welcome one.
RELATED: Horror with a Side of Cheese: 3-Headed Shark Attack
The entire cast turns in decent performances – especially young Dan Hough, who overcomes silence to make Ant courageous and clever. But this is McAvoy’s show, top to bottom. He takes the original character of Patrick and amps up the toxic masculinity even more, from his shirt-busting, ripped physique to his barbaric screams. He imbues Paddy with an overdose of manliness, a sketchy sort of charm and a scary unpredictability that recalls his incredible performance in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split (2016). There’s even humor to be found in Paddy’s behavior – there’s a great scene of Paddy and Ben in the car and Paddy’s belting out The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” with way too much intensity, leaving Ben totally weirded out. The awkward looks between them are hilarious.
Another interesting aspect of Speak No Evil is that it’s written and directed by James Watkins, who also wrote and directed Eden Lake (2008). Which is similar in that it takes everyday life and makes it terrifying (though Eden Lake is far more shocking). Like the original Speak No Evil, the good guys lose – but at least they tried. So it’s as if Watkins took what he learned from that and applied it to this remake – which is exactly what the story needed.
So if you’re a fan of the original, this remake has all the signature scenes – the guys screaming, the “Cotton-Eyed Joe” scene, Ant showing his cut-off tongue and making the scissors gesture. But in this version, the good guys fight and win – which I suppose is a very American thing. But it’s also what makes the flick a lot more fun.
Directed by: James Watkins
Written by: James Watkins, Christian Tafdrup (original screenplay), Mads Tafdrup (original screenplay)
Release date: Sept. 13, 2024
Rating: R
Run time: 1hr, 50min
Distributor: Blumhouse / Universal Pictures
- HOLD YOUR BREATH Spoiler Review - October 8, 2024
- APARTMENT 7A Spoiler Review - September 29, 2024
- SPEAK NO EVIL Spoiler Review - September 17, 2024
