Okay, so here’s the deal: you’ve got an American family on vacation in Italy. They hit it off with this English lady, and next thing you know, they’re invited to chill at her countryside place for a weekend. Sounds perfect, right? But surprise! Things take a creepy turn real fast.

So, “Speak No Evil” is this intense psychological thriller mixed with some dark humor that spirals into straight-up horror. It’s actually a fresh spin on this Danish flick by Christian Tafdrup from a few years back. The movie’s all about figuring out what goes down when two families – one American and one English – clash during their not-so-innocent getaway.

If you’re curious about how James Watkins adapted the original story from the Danish brothers Christian and Mads Tafdrup to fit this Anglo-American setup, well, it’s pretty interesting stuff. Apparently, both versions of the movie offer something worth watching, even if you catch the other one first.

The story kicks off in Italy everytime with Paddy—an energetic guy from an English family—immediately stepping up against our hero Ben from an American family now living in the UK. Both side-by-side on holiday sets up all kinds of tension that you don’t see coming when everything hits full-throttle terror later on.
Okay, so this movie kicks off in the beautiful Tuscan countryside – sounds dreamy, right? There’s a funny bit that pokes at two Danish tourists and might remind you of the original film. Anyway, the story dives into how two very different families are dealing with their stuff, often with a comedic twist. You’ve got the English family, who on the surface seem super solid and healthy. But thanks to the creative direction from James Watkins (the guy behind Eden Lake), you’re left questioning if they’re as rock-solid as they seem. Meanwhile, it’s pretty clear from the get-go that the American family is really going through it.

So, one group is falling apart while the other seems to be sticking together better than ever – classic themes you might have seen before. Even though you can probably tell early on that not everything is as it appears, there’s something unique about how the script takes its time to show us what makes these families tick beneath all those facades. Sure, some of it feels stereotypical, but come on, with actors like Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy playing husband and wife Dalton from America (who also have an 11-year-old daughter named Agnes), and James McAvoy along with Aisling Franciosi as Paddy and Ciara from England (plus their mysterious mute son Ant), they really nail their roles.

The younger characters actually get more focus here than in the Danish version which adds an interesting layer. Naturally focusing further on Ben Dalton’s specifics would lead somewhere interesting too!

Alright, let me tell you about this movie—it’s like a bit of a wild ride. You’ve got two main characters: one’s all shy and timid, and the other, Paddy, is this strong leader type. Their dynamic is pretty fascinating ’cause the shy guy is kinda obsessed with Paddy in this weird way.

Now, James McAvoy plays the shy guy and he really amps it up with his performance. It’s almost like he’s juggling multiple roles at once. Especially watch those eyebrow moves—it’s something else! But to really get into the story, you’ve gotta understand there’s some serious social satire going on here. You’ve got typical American manners clashing with much more easy-going English vibes.

The film kicks off all sunny in Italy—think Vespas and pasta everywhere—but then takes a dark turn later on when everyone heads over to gloomy Devon in Cornwall. The English family lives out on this farmhouse that looks just about ready to fall apart while the Americans roll in from London all eco-friendly in their Tesla. Even though it seems cozy with everyone together, there’s this unsettling feeling hanging over the place, kinda reminding you of one of those intense Sam Peckinpah movies where danger doesn’t come from outsiders but brews right under your nose.