Rating: 7/10
There’s a good chance you’ve seen a trailer for James Watkin’s “Speak No Evil,” and whether you enjoyed it or not, a remake for a foreign film just over two years old had a lot to adapt to.
The film stands quite well on its own; however, when compared to the original, some cracks begin to show.
“Speak No Evil” follows the Daltons, an American family that befriends a British family while on a vacation. During their vacation, the Daltons get invited to the British family’s remote home. After deciding it might be a good distraction for their daughter, they eventually go.
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From the moment they arrive, the British couple slowly begins to push the boundaries of the Daltons’ social limits, revealing that they might not be who they say they are.
The set design and the overall location of the film were a marvel to look at and added to the atmospheric horror that came with having the film take place in a beautiful location.
One advantage of having the film set in a remote location is that the number of cast members is significantly smaller due to how separated from society these characters and their settings are, just like the original film.
With this small cast of characters, there’s a greater opportunity for every actor to shine, and in “Speak No Evil,” that’s exactly what happens. The amazing performances of each cast member characterized the film.
Whether it’s James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi’s terrifying performances as Paddy and Ciara or the rocky chemistry between Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy’s characters Louise and Ben, everyone’s performances in the movie are not only believable but thrilling, ensuring the audience stays at the edges of their seats.
McAvoy and Franciosi’s level of craziness perfectly balances the level of conflict and naivety that both Davis and McNairy share. It allows the movie to have a nice back-and-forth in terms of stressful and engaging personalities for how their situation eventually plays out.
In a roundtable interview with several college publications, including The Daily Illini, Davis talked about working with McAvoy throughout the film’s production.
“He’s so self-effacing and fun, easy and silly,” Davis said. “He’s just a joy to be around.”
Davis also mentioned that her performance was based on her mom’s personality.
“My mom is a really ferocious woman, and she’s really powerful,” Davis said. “She has a face that says everything.”
Additionally, the performances from both child actors Dan Hough and Alix West Lefler as Ant and Agnes add to the film’s dread. Ant is forced to be a pawn for Paddy and Ciara, and Agnes is stuck finding out the truth behind the British couple.
Despite “Speak No Evil” being an adaptation of the original Danish film, several changes in the story ultimately cause the overall meaning to not quite land.
In the same roundtable interview, Davis revealed he had not watched the original film before production.
“None of the actors were asked to — or encouraged to — and I didn’t want to, not until after we finished shooting,” Davis said. “I just don’t think it’s that helpful to see someone else’s version.”
Watkins and the crew attempted to make their own film that worked off the original standards, and for the most part, they succeeded at that vision.
However, it’s hard to examine “Speak No Evil” for how similar both projects ended up, even if they have a few changes. Both films attempted to convey a similar message that is presented better with the bleakness of the original.
As a standalone project, “Speak No Evil” is a fine movie that excels at building tension with its performances. However, it’s difficult not to compare it to the original for all the similar steps this adaptation takes.
