I've finally seen Speak No Evil, and I have to talk about one big change from the original

The Danish thriller from 2022 Speak no evil left me and others unsettled in the best way with its dark character, overall message, and the choices that led to the ending. It’s a brilliant horror film deserved great distinction and that is why I was excited and concerned about James Watkins’ statements. Speak no evil remake.

To be honest, I was probably more annoyed by the idea of it until I learned it James McAvoy signed to the star. He is one of my favorite actors and someone I trust to pick compelling projects. I didn’t know if this would be the case one of his best performancesbut I knew it would at least be a good one, and my confidence in the actor turned out to be justified, because he delivered another hair-raising performance. He’s downright terrifying Speak no evil.

The Scottish actor’s performance isn’t the only fascinating thing about the English language Speak no evilwhich makes some major changes from the source material that definitively sets the two films apart. Others may not like the changes, but I liked them, so let’s dive in.

Warning Speak no evil spoilers are ahead! If you haven’t been looking, proceed with caution!

Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy and Alix West Lefler look concerned in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

The Dalton family fights back in the Speak No Evil ending

In the original Speak no evilBjørn (Morten Burian) and his wife Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch) encounter Patrick (Fedja van Huet) again after trying to escape to a so-called friend. Things escalate and Karin (Karina Smulders) cuts the tongue out of the mouth of Louise and Bjørn’s daughter, Agnes (Liva Forsberg). Louise and Bjørn are then taken to a ditch and stoned. We later see that Agnes is taken in as Karin and Patrick’s new mute child, while they already start looking for her replacement.

Compare that to Patrick and Karin drowning their ‘son’ Abel (Marius Damslev) in the pool, and it’s clear that the original Speak no evil The ending is extremely bleak and shows the family essentially submissively walking towards death. The 2024 Speak no evil takes the opposite direction.

Louise (Mackenzie Davis), Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Agnes (Alix West Lefler) all fight to survive, and all contribute to stopping Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi). The film also gives Ant (Dan Hough) justice by allowing him to give Paddy his final death blow.

Even before the Speak no evil remake premiered, I suspected this version would change the final act. Americans love a happy and hopeful ending, so as daring and brilliant as the remake could have been in heaving closer to the original fate of the main characters, it probably wouldn’t have been a popular conclusion among typical American viewers.

Moreover, the original Speak no evil is very atmospheric and creepy. The remake is more of a horror-thriller, which often means some big battle scenes. We got to see the Dalton family fight the hardest to survive.

As much as I loved the bleak ending of the Danish-Dutch original, I’m glad the remake didn’t follow the same path. It made the final act surprising and offered some hope, which I’m unfortunately a sucker for, but I don’t necessarily think the ending is without bleakness. It’s another movie with a wild endingjust in a different way than the 2022 film.

Scoot McNairy looks concerned in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

The ending of the remake changes the entire message of the original story

I have interpreted the original Speak no evil to become a film about complacency and not fighting back, with the most chilling and terrifying line: “Because you let me.” Patrick and Karin succeed because Bjørn does not fight them and also ignores obvious signs of danger.

By the time he realizes the true nature of the other family, it is too late. He led his loved ones to their demise and did not take the many chances he had to save them from this fate.

Ben makes some similar mistakes in the newer version, but he still fights back. The 2022 Speak no evil seems to be about a man who is too passive and idolizes a monster. The 2024 Speak no evil is about a survivor who learns to stand up for himself and fight for his family. Ben is who Bjørn should have become in an idealized universe. These simple changes completely distract from the films’ respective purposes.

The Danish-Dutch Speak no evil is more of a cautionary tale and a look at the dark side of unchecked power and control. It’s about what people become when you don’t fight evil. The American version is more of a hero fantasy about a deceived man who becomes the hero his family needs and earns their respect.

Scoot Mcnairy takes the lead as Mackenzie Davis and Dan Hough look on in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

Speak No Evil allows Ben and Louise to become heroes

Ben isn’t the only one who becomes a hero in Speak no evil. Louise does that too. In many ways, it feels like she’s doing more to save the family than he can, and it helps convince the audience to respect these characters.

The film also breaks the conventional ideas of film heroes. Louise and Ben are just parents fighting to save their children and themselves, rather than having any specialized talents.

They are not a perfect couple, but they still try to be the best partners and parents possible.

James McAvoy looks scary in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

It shows the true wickedness of Paddy from the viewers

James McAvoy then made a great decision he hasn’t seen the original film before making Speak no evil. This choice allowed him to bring his kind of rampage to Paddy. This character is so intense from start to finish that it’s almost unbelievable that Ben finds him charming. Towards the end of Speak no evilPaddy proves he’s worse than we thought.

Not only did he physically and emotionally abuse these children and kill them and their parents, but he likely sexually abused them, at least some of them. Ciara claims she was one of the children Paddy stole and became his wife. She was the first stolen child. He took her when she was about twelve (Agnes’s age). At first it seems like she might just be saying this to manipulate Louise. However, come in earlier Speak no evil, Louise and Ben notice how young Ciara is compared to Paddy.

When Paddy grabs Agnes, he mentions that she takes care of him. Now that Ciara is dead, he wants Agnes to take her place. This essentially confirms that he can add being a rapist to his list of many evil deeds. Paddy is a truly evil character, and that’s what makes McAvoy’s performance so compelling. His evil layers are peeling off even more Speak no evil continues.

Dan Hough screams in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

The ending changes from gloomy to hopeful, but remains dark

Ant delivers the final blow that kills Paddy. Ben just wants to leave him, but Ant needs Paddy dead and hits him with a rock. This is a bleak ending because he has now become a murderer. Moreover, Ciara and Paddy inflicted so much torture and abuse on the boy. We can assume that Ben and Louise will now adopt Ant, but that won’t save him from this traumatic experience and how taking a life could haunt him forever.

The ending offers some hope as Agnes finally lets go of her bunny and gives it to Ant. It’s a sweet gesture, but it doesn’t undo all his pain and suffering. Ant barely survived.

I enjoyed both versions of it Speak no evil and appreciate that the US version simply did not copy the original, but adapted it to appeal to its target audience. It makes the viewing experience more exciting because you don’t know what happens next.

Rent or buy Speak No Evil on Amazon.