A surprising remake from Blumhouse

In 2008, writer-director James Watkins made his first mark in the horror genre with his brutal survival horror. Lake EdenFollowing a vacationing couple trying to survive a group of violent teenagers, Watkins proved he wasn’t afraid to create twisted, violent, and harrowing tales about the horrors humans are capable of. He brings that sensibility to Blumhouse’s novel. Speak No Evil (2024)an English-language remake of the 2022 Dutch horror film. While remaking this film just two years later is certainly a fascinating decision (to say the least), Watkins still creates something darkly funny and deeply disturbing, all supported by a phenomenal cast, including a stellar James McAvoy.

The Daltons are on vacation in Italy. Ben (Scoot McNairy), Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Agnes (Alix West Lefler), the trio are the quintessential modern family: everyone is a little on edge and their daughter suffers from near-constant anxiety that neither parent knows how to handle. Then they meet the cool family of Paddy (James McAvoy), Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and Ant (Dan Hough). They laugh easily, joke easily and seem deeply in love. Paddy’s masculine demeanor particularly attracts Ben, whose long, silent glances at the couple betray a barely concealed jealousy of a life he desperately wants.

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After a magical vacation in Italy, the Daltons decide to visit their new friends in the British countryside. Having recently moved to London for Ben (who promptly lost his job upon their arrival), they have few friends and a lot of depressing isolation, especially given the country’s grey skies and rainy weather. But once they arrive at Paddy and Ciara’s farm, the Daltons are uneasy about almost everything. From forcing Louise to eat meat on a vegetarian to an unorthodox upbringing, the Daltons are constantly on edge. At least Louise is, who constantly whispers to Ben that she’s uneasy. But Ben, in love with Paddy and his ability to control his family, easily waves away his unease with a wave of his hand to allow him to spend more time in this seemingly idyllic lifestyle.

But Ben’s toxic desires, coupled with forced American politeness and a refusal to be seen as rude, reach an explosive crescendo when Paddy and Ciara’s true intentions are revealed in a final act that departs from the original plot into something much less dark, much less bloody, but still quite tense in a way that only Watkins could conceive.

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The first two acts of Speak No Evil (2024) The film follows in its predecessor’s footsteps rather religiously. However, even if you’ve seen the original, Watkins’ writing and the overall performances here keep the film from feeling stale. The surprises come in the way Watkins crafts these deeply uncomfortable jokes and comments that have you shivering in your seat. He also gives the Daltons some interesting depth, particularly when it comes to Ben and Louise’s tenuous relationship. Yes, they touch and laugh playfully with each other, but it’s the little moments where he disagrees with her or she puts her foot down that expose their fragile foundations.

This film is not only about politeness, but also about how toxic masculinity seeps into every facet of life and warps your perception of reality. Watkins makes the film even more contemporary and important by focusing the conversation more on modern marriage and parenthood.

McAvoy is clearly all in as the manic Paddy who knows how to get people going, especially Ben. He knows how to take people to task and bring out their insecurities, which McAvoy portrays with both glee and fury. Davis is an incredible partner, a WASP-like mother who, when the going gets tough, isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Ben, played by McNairy, is a pathetic loser and I mean that as a compliment to McNairy who truly makes Ben the most detestable worm on screen. And I would be remiss to mention the quiet power of Franciosi, who could easily be a wallflower but whose confidence is unnerving, which makes her far more frightening than she appears.

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What is important, Speak No Evil (2024) The film doesn’t take the dark and brutal turns of its predecessor, instead opting for a more Hollywood approach that’s relatively bloodless. While it’s an obvious business decision aimed at appealing to a wider audience, it’s disappointing to not only see Watkins’ wings clipped, but also to see the lack of risk Blumhouse took in crafting the remake.

For those who liked the original film, Watkins’ Don’t say anything bad The film may not go far enough or stray far enough from its predecessor to remain compelling, especially in its first two acts. However, for audiences unfamiliar with the original, it’s a fascinating treat that goes in some strange directions. At my screening, audiences were cheering in their seats, groaning in frustration, and screaming in rage at each new, baffling decision. People were invested in the journey, and that investment was invigorating for me because everyone was excited to engage with what they were seeing on screen. With Watkins at the helm, Speak No Evil (2024) is a surprisingly poignant English-language adaptation that not only embraces the source material, but isn’t afraid to dig a little deeper into the darker corners of human psychology.

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Don’t say anything bad (2024) hits theaters on September 13, 2024.

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