SPEAK NO EVIL

US, 2024, 110 minutes, Colour.

James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Leffler, Dan Hough.

Directed by James Watkins.

The title sets up expectations, unspoken evil. And expectations are fulfilled until the last minutes of the film when evil is definitely spoken. Audiences may have seen a Danish film of 2022 with same title, a Danish family visiting a Dutch family with bizarre consequences. This time it is an American family, about to settle in London, encountering a very friendly couple on a European holiday, invited to their home in England’s West Country.

The holiday is very cheerful, a getaway for the American couple, new jobs, new locations, a strong character in the wife, Louise (Mackenzie Davis), a more hesitant character in the husband, Ben (Scoot McNairy), and the young daughter, Agnes (Alix West Leffler), who does show signs of being troubled. The audience identifies with them. The British couple, Paddy (James McAvoy), Ciara (Aisling Franciosa) are exuberantly cheerful, funny for every occasion. However, their little boy, Ant (Dan Hough) cannot communicate by speech, deformity with his tongue.

Everybody gets on so well with each other that there is the inevitable invitation of the American family to come visit…

Most audiences who choose to see Speak no Evil, know that there is some horror in the offing. However, the filmmakers decided that it was more effective to evoke, over an extended period, a sense of menace. This can be very powerful. And, this is what happens, small incidents, odd comments, bizarre behaviour, increasing tension between Louise and Ben, their hosts forever cheerful.

However, the drama is heightened in surfacing the reasons for the stress between Louise and Ben, a past failing, loss of jobs, decisions to move, making the story not just simply a family under threat but tension-racked family under threat.

As the film moves to its dramatic climax, confrontations, violence, the audience has come to know all the protagonists very well, including the two children. In fact, much of the final focus is on the young son, Ant, revelations about his situation and, a final focus on his face, after an extremely disturbing sequence which involves him, a jolt for audience sensibilities, reminder that though he could not speak, he was a boy with deep emotions desperate for an outlet.

Which means that this is not just your average horror story, but a dramatic story of families and relationships, manipulation and aggression.

1. The tone of the title? Ant and his inability to speak, good or evil? Paddy and his evil words, supported by Ciara? And the hostile words between Louise and Ben?
2. The European holiday, the countryside and landscapes, the buildings, the streets, the meals, outdoor discussions? The musical score?
3. Getting to know Louise and Ben, their marriage, their history, Louise and infidelity, Ben and forgiveness, her giving up her work and life, moving to England, the uncertainty of his work? The relationship with Agnes? Her age, dependence on her toy? The response to Paddy and his bravado, the invitation to visit when in England? Their being charmed and pressurised?
4. Paddy, his manner, bravado, jokiness, the Danes and their seriousness about cooking, avoiding the meal with them, the crassness of his talk about toilet paper and the reaction? Ingratiating himself with Louise and Ben? The support from Ciara? The presence of Ant, his age, his tongue and inability to speak?
5. Louise and Ben, in England, settling in, the invitation, Louise and her reluctance, Ben wanting to go, compromise? Agnes and the issue of her toy? The drive, doubts, the dark, finding the house? Lavish, the welcome?
6. The details of the holiday, the rooms, Agnes sharing with Ant, the couple’s room, the dirty sheet? Louise, unease? Ben and accommodating? The discussions, the welcome, the outings, the meal specially prepared, Michael and his connection, their leaving Ben to pay?
7. The children, together, playing, bonding, the issue of the dance, Paddy and his criticisms, making Ant continue to dance? The violence? Ant later revealing the bruises on his body? The football, throwing it too far, taking Agnes into the building, into the basement, the photos, the revelation about himself, Agnes photographing the photos and evidence?
8. Louise, more and more uncomfortable, the argument with Ben, the revelation about their life and relationship? Wanting to leave, by night, Agnes of the toy, having to return, Paddy and his reaction? There are explanations?
9. The further decision to leave, the toy on the roof, the ladder, precarious, Paddy holding it? The growing sense of menace, Paddy discovering the children had been in the basement? Phoning Mike, his arrival, the revelation about their dealings, the couples, the children, the money?
10. The climax, the dangers, people using their wits, weapons, Mike and his gun, his attempt to kill Ben, Louise and the hammer? Ciara and the gun, menace, her death? Hiding in the various rooms in cupboards, using the inflammatories, the fire, the car exploding? Refuge on the roof? Paddy and his pursuit? The accelerant on him and the fire? The wounds? Ben falling to the ground, getting the ladder, the escape?
11. Paddy, the final confrontation, his death – and the disturbing sequence of Ant continually bashing Paddy’s head?
12. The drive away, the focus on each, Agnes giving the toy to Ant? The close-up of and space summarising what had happened?