'Speak No Evil' Movie Review: A Nail-Biting, Slow-Burn Psychological Horror

Table of Contents

As a lover of psychological thrillers, I was immediately intrigued by the trailer for Speak No Evil. Add in the talented James McAvoy in the lead role, and I was sold. While I wasn’t familiar with the 2022 Danish film of the same name going in, I’m glad I gave this American remake a chance.

Speak No Evil follows an American family who accepts an invitation to visit the remote country estate of a friendly British couple they met on vacation. What starts as a seemingly idyllic getaway quickly devolves into a nightmarish descent into the unknown as the American family finds themselves increasingly trapped and terrorized by their peculiar hosts.

Check out the trailer below.

Speak No Evil Movie Trailer

Speak No Evil Movie Review: What I Did and Didn’t Like

One of the things I really enjoyed about this film was the palpable sense of unease and dread that permeates the entire runtime. The slow-burn approach keeps you on the edge of your seat, as the characters become increasingly trapped in a situation that my social anxiety would have easily prevented me from ever being in (I guess it’s good for something?). James McAvoy is absolutely riveting as the charming yet deeply unsettling Paddy, delivering another performance that oscillates between friendliness and pure menace (recalling McAvoy’s 2016 flick Split – he does such a good job with these types of characters).

As I mentioned earlier, I haven’t seen the original Danish film, and from what was described of it, I’m okay with that. It sounds like it has a little too much unflinching darkness for this gal. That being said, the American remake still packs quite a punch, but it’s much more tame than its predecessor.

The Script

Unfortunately, the script doesn’t always capitalize on the rich psychological tension it sets up. While the slow-burn approach effectively ratchets up the unease, the film occasionally struggles to maintain that sense of dread, falling back on more conventional thriller tropes in the third act.

Additionally, the script could have delved deeper into the social commentary hinted at throughout. The film touches on themes of social media-fueled fakeness and the dangers of polite compliance. However, these elements feel underexplored, overshadowed by the more immediate threat.

Speak No Evil Movie Review — Photo Credit: Universal

The Performances

The ensemble cast is uniformly excellent, with standout performances from James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis. McAvoy is almost enchanting as the charming yet deeply unsettling Paddy, who gradually sheds his friendly façade to reveal a much more disturbing, unpredictable, psychotic character.

Equally impressive is Mackenzie Davis as Louise, the Dalton family’s sole voice of reason. As the situation grows increasingly dire, Davis imbues Louise with a palpable sense of dread and desperation. She fiercely fights to protect her family even as the walls close in around them and her husband seems to not be much help. Her performance helps to ground the film’s more unnerving moments, providing a relatable anchor amidst the growing chaos.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, Speak No Evil is a tense, unnerving psychological thriller that grips you from start to finish. For fans of slow-burn horror and thrillers, this American remake is worth checking out, if not for McAvoy’s creepy good performance alone. It will stay with you long after the credits roll. And while I won’t be watching this one again (my nerves are still shot 24 hours after the screening), I’m certainly glad I saw it.