Speak No Evil (2024) - Don't Turn a Blind Eye to This Psychological Thriller Remake - 8/10 (03/10/24)

Speak No Evil is a remake of a Danish-Dutch production of the same title that was released only two years earlier. Interestingly, the remake has been achieving more critical acclaim thus far than the original version. The most remarkable difference between these two movies is the ending. Both versions deserve your attention if you like psychological thrillers.

The story revolves around a British couple who befriends families with young children during their holidays and then invite them to their isolated mansion in the country. Telling you anything more would spoil the experience of viewing this movie.

This remake convinces on multiple levels. First and foremost, the acting performances are absolutely credible, intense and memorable. I have to point out James McAvoy who is the greatest contemporary actor from Scotland. He manages to become one with his role and his performance will send shivers down your spine.

Another strong element are the locations. The mansion in the country is surrounded by small hills, beautiful meadows and the wild ocean. The mansion itself consists of a confusing combination of driveways, garages, gardens, living quarters and staples. Despite the size of the mansion, viewers will quickly feel trapped in this location.

This movie also has a strong message that can easily be applied to our everyday lives. Sometimes, we wonder why certain people defy authority, disrespect laws and disobey rules. The simple answer is that these people aren't told to stop. It might seem impolite to restrain expressions and liberties of other people but sometimes it's for the sake of the whole community and the value of equality. This movie shows drastically what can happen when you remain neutral, objective and passive as things can quickly spiral out of control and lead to devastating consequences.

The only downside of this great psychological thriller is that the story is extremely predictable. Just watching the trailer will tell you everything this movie is about. This is why I would recommend you to stop consulting reviews and summaries at this point and enjoy this film without any further knowledge or expectations.

What you will get at the end of the day is a very good psychological thriller with excellent acting performances, memorable locations and a strong message that also applies to our everyday lives.