The Stream: Characters make dumb decisions, but that’s also kind of the point.

The Big Screen: Very tense, some funny moments and a ferocious James McAvoy performance.

The Final Bill: A clever and intense thriller that will make you reconsider making vacation friends.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: James Watkins
Writers: James Watkins, Christian Tafdrup, and Mads Tafdrup
Stars: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Rating: R for some strong violence, language, some sexual content and brief drug use
Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes
Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Croatian Film Association,
Platform: In theaters September 13, 2024
Notable Trailers: The Fire Inside, Never Let Go, Nosferatu, Wolfman

What’s up, Streamers!?!? Since the summer has come to a close, you may be reflecting on those charming, friendly strangers you met on vacation. You exchanged phone numbers and socials and said you’d meet up in Miami next year. Maybe at their home sometime sooner? Well, here comes Speak No Evil to make you rethink those hasty plans. It is a remake of a Danish film of the same name that depicts the horrors that may come with taking up your vacation friends on their offer to host you at their remote cabin in the countryside. In this movie, Mackenzie Davis and Scott McNairy play an uptight, American couple vacationing in Italy with their daughter who meet a free-spirited and charismatic British couple played by James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi and their mute son. The two couples hit it off, their children seem to connect, and they exchange information in order to spend time in the future. When the British couple invites the American family to their home in the English countryside, things seem a bit off and get weirder as the trip wears on. Bad decisions and point-of-no-return hijinks ensue.

Speak No Evil is an excellent thriller with a fairly standard premise, a great central performance by James McAvoy, and has a lot to say about social politics. Since this movie is marketed as a suspense, psychological-horror thriller, you know that this trip is going to turn out badly. That’s why I say the premise is standard. The American couple’s first bad decision was talking to the British couple in Italy and then they make bad decision after bad decision until they’re stuck. That’s how these movies go. It can get frustrating seeing otherwise decent people make such asinine choices over and over again. On the other hand, each bad decision will make you inch closer to the edge of your seat. You’ll think, “would I have done that?” Then, you’ll say, “I definitely wouldn’t have done that! That’s some stupid mess!” Oh, yes, you will be talking back to the screen, and you’ll laugh out loud at moments.

Now, James McAvoy is excellent in this movie. Like he was in Split, McAvoy throws himself completely into this out-sized, charismatic character. He draws you in. He will make confused and confound you. He will creep you out as well. Moreover, McAvoy’s physical stature is very imposing. The rest of the cast is very good as well especially Mackenzie Davis as the tightly wound wife and Scoot McNairy as the impotent husband. They are the perfect contrast to the British couple and foils for each other. Their relationship is pivotal to why the movie works because social politics of their marriage and false niceness that permeates superficial friendships is integral to the suspense and tension in this movie. It so interesting what this movie shows about manliness, socioeconomic status, and social interaction. It’s a really good conversation starter on top of being a very entertaining and thrilling movie.

Ultimately, Speak No Evil ticks all of the boxes for an intense, psychological thriller. There are good performances from the cast, but James McAvoy is especially compelling. There are surprisingly funny moments, and the social commentary is really interesting as well. This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat and also make you think. Grab a big box of popcorn, but leave the vacation friends in Italy.