Speak No Evil is a 2024 American psychological horror film written and directed by James Watkins. A remake of the 2022 Danish film of the same name, the film stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, and Scoot McNairy. Its plot follows an American family who are invited to stay at a remote farmhouse of a British couple for the weekend, the hosts soon begin to test the limits of their guests as the situation escalates. Jason Blum serves as a producer through his Blumhouse Productions banner.
Speak No Evil premiered at the DGA Theater in New York City on September 9, 2024, and was released in the United States by Universal Pictures on September 13, 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $26 million worldwide against a budget of $15 million.
Plot
[edit]While holidaying in Italy, American couple Louise and Ben Dalton and their daughter Agnes meet and befriend free-spirited British couple Paddy and Ciara and their son Ant. Back home in London, Louise and Ben are at odds over Ben's unemployment and Louise's infidelity. A letter arrives from Paddy and Ciara inviting the Daltons to their remote farmhouse in the countryside. The family decides to go, hoping the change of scenery will be good for them and for Agnes who has anxiety and is attached to a stuffed rabbit toy.
Arriving at the farmhouse, Louise, Ben, and Agnes are warmly welcomed but as they spend more time at the house, they begin to grow unnerved by strange incidents and passive-aggressive behavior from their hosts that cross boundaries. Louise is also troubled by Paddy and Ciara's aggressive treatment of Ant whom they learn was born with a condition that left him with a smaller tongue and an inability to communicate. One evening, the adults go out for dinner, leaving Agnes and Ant in the care of a babysitter named Muhjid which unnerves the Daltons. While playing hide and seek with Muhjid, Ant shows Agnes a collection of watches Paddy has and a message written in a foreign language, but Agnes can't understand him. At dinner, Paddy challenges Louise's vegetarianism and jokingly performs a sex act with Ciara, shocking their guests. Upon returning, Louise later discovers Agnes has been moved to share a bed with a drunken Paddy and Ciara. Horrified, Louise flees with her family but are forced to return by Agnes who left behind her stuffed rabbit.
Upon retrieving the toy, Paddy and Ciara apologize for their behavior and subtly accuse the Daltons of judging them. The Daltons decide to stay to keep the peace but the strange behavior continues, unsettling the family. After an incident where Paddy throws a mug at Ant, Ant steals a set of keys and leads Agnes to a locked shed. Inside is a collection of luggage and personal possessions belonging to various families. Using a photo book, Ant reveals to Agnes that Paddy and Ciara are not his real parents but are serial killers who lure families to their farmhouse, rob and kill them before cutting out their children's tongue and using them to assist in luring their next victims. Ant shows Agnes that this has happened to him and his family and that Paddy and Ciara intend to make the Daltons their next victims. Agnes fakes having her period and manages to get Louise and Ben alone to explain the situation. Horrified, the family decides to leave, calmly so as not to arouse suspicion and contact the police to save Ant.
Paddy and Ciara, realizing that they have been figured out, damage the Daltons' car, and hide Agnes's bunny to delay them, subtly mocking them as they do so. When the Daltons do finally drive off, Paddy throws Ant, who can't swim, into a pond. Ben rescues Ant before a gun-wielding Paddy and Ciara capture them. Paddy and Ciara force them to transfer their savings before preparing to kill them and cut out Agnes's tongue. A struggle ensues, Paddy is injured and the family and Ant flee into the house. Paddy, Ciara, and their accomplice Mike, hunt for the family. Louise manages to kill Mike and save Ben before the family flees to the roof. Ciara attacks but falls to her death. As the family attempts to escape, Paddy emerges, holding Agnes at gunpoint. Agnes manages to inject Paddy with a syringe of ketamine, incapacitating him. As the family go to leave, Ant approaches his defeated "father", and after Paddy acknowledges his fate by saying to Ant, "That's my boy", an enraged Ant beats him to death with a brick as revenge. The Daltons and Ant leave the farmhouse. While they drive, Agnes gives her stuffed bunny to Ant, who sobs quietly.
Cast
[edit]- Mackenzie Davis as Louise Dalton[6]
- Scoot McNairy as Ben Dalton[6]
- Alix West Lefler as Agnes Dalton[6]
- Dan Hough as Ant[7]
- James McAvoy as Paddy[8]
- Aisling Franciosi as Ciara
- Kris Hitchen as Mike
- Motaz Mulhees as Muhjid
Production
[edit]James Watkins wrote and directed the film for Blumhouse Productions. It is a remake of the 2022 Danish film of the same name.[9] In April 2023, James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis were reported to be in the cast.[8] The following month, Scoot McNairy joined the cast.[10]
Principal photography took place in Croatia and Gloucester, England, in May and was expected to end in July,[11] before filming was suspended five days before it was to wrap up due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[12] In mid-November, production resumed in the United Kingdom, filming in Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.[13][14]
Release
[edit]Speak No Evil premiered at the DGA Theater in New York City on September 9, 2024[15] and was released in theaters by Universal Pictures on September 13, 2024.[16][17]