Speak No Evil

"Hear no evil."

2024 1h 50m EN

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 2,377

HorrorThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.

“Hear no evil.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

James McAvoy
Paddy
Mackenzie Davis
Louise Dalton
Scoot McNairy
Ben Dalton
Aisling Franciosi
Ciara
Alix West Lefler
Agnes Dalton
Dan Hough
Ant
Kris Hitchen
Mike
Motaz Malhees
Muhjid

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: James Watkins
Writers: Mads Tafdrup, James Watkins, Christian Tafdrup
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 5.1× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 2 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by James Watkins, shot by Tim Maurice-Jones. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Danny Bensi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jon Harris shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Hear no evil.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt27534307 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

James Watkins directs. Tim Maurice-Jones behind the camera. Danny Bensi scores. Jon Harris cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 5.1× over at the box office.
2Released 2 years ago.
3Directed by James Watkins, shot by Tim Maurice-Jones. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Danny Bensi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Jon Harris shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Hear no evil.".
8IMDB entry: tt27534307 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 16 themes, including "husband wife relationship", "paranoia", "remake", "weekend getaway".

The technical file

Cinematography: Tim Maurice-Jones
Original score: Danny Bensi
Editing: Jon Harris
Production design: James Price
Costume design: Keith Madden
Makeup / hair: Nicole Stafford
VFX supervisor: Jason Evans
Sound: Ben Barker
Stunt coordinator: James O'Donnell
Runtime: 110 min · 1h 50m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $15,000,000
Box office: $77,239,314
Return: 515% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Speak No Evil (2024)

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James Watkins

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Community reviews

What people are saying

r96sk2024-09-13
★ 9/10
'Speak No Evil' is supremely well done! I felt unsettled from pretty much the get-go. That's because you can see the general direction that the movie is going to head, though that doesn't hampen the feeling of unease that is present all the way through. I did actually think whilst watching that the film was being a tad dragged out, though by the credits I was fully sold on what I had just seen. James McAvoy is outstanding, I knew he was capable of portraying such a creepy and unhinged character from seeing some of his other work. 'Split' for one, though also, oddly, 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'; I always got creeped out when we first see his Mr. Tumnus. Mackenzie Davis impresses as well, as do Scoot McNairy and Aisling Franciosi in fairness; youngsters Alix West Lefler and Dan Hough do well too. The final scene with the latter is quite something, I thought it was going to play out slightly differently (i.e. what Ron does to Carl, for any fellow 'The Walking Dead' fans) so to see it go they way it did was unexpected - but, without question, welcome. I shall no doubt check out the Danish original at some point in the future.
CinemaSerf2024-09-15
★ 6/10
How many folks have you met on holiday and promised to go and visit when you all get back home? Well for me that is always a bit like ouzo or metaxa - best enjoyed in situ but never a good idea when the trip is actually over. The "Dalton" family are a bit down in the dumps. "Ben" (Scoot McNairy) has just relocated to London from the USA to find his job evaporated, wife "Louise" (Mackenzie Davis) is trying to keep things positive and their over-indulged daughter "Aggie" (Alix West Lefler) is an eleven year old joined (annoyingly) at the hip with her cuddly rabbit. They decide that they ought to take up the offer of spending a week with their new-found holiday friends and so head to the remote home of the ebullient "Paddy" (James McAvoy) and his family "Ciara" (Aisling Franciosi) and mute son "Ant" (Dan Hough). Initially it's all good fun - even if the sleeping arrangements leave something to be desired, but gradually it becomes clear that all is not as it might be amidst this idyllic setting. When young "Ant" manages to convey a menacing secret to "Aggie" then a distinct panic sets in amongst the visitors who conclude that a midnight flit is in order. Of course, it's not going to be that easy and adaptability and ingenuity become the family's buzzwords as things become a great deal more dangerous. It does come alive a bit for the last twenty minutes, even though these are all just a little far-fetched, but the rest of this is really little more than a showcase for McAvoy to shine. To be fair, he does turn in a decent enough effort eventually but we spend far too much time building to that denouement. The preamble, some on their holiday and most at their rustic residence all advances the storyline too slowly and meanderingly to sustain enough interest to carry it's almost two hour duration, and personally, I found the likelihood that these people would ever have become friends in the first place about as remote as his house. It's all watchable enough, but nothing very memorable I'm afraid.
Manuel São Bento2024-09-16
★ 7/10
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://talkingfilms.net/speak-no-evil-review-an-americanized-remake-for-better-and-worse/ "Speak No Evil may not reach the visceral depth of the Danish original, but it offers a more accessible, commercially appealing approach. The changes in story and tone may divide fans of the 2022 psychological thriller, but there's something to be said about the effectiveness of the stellar performances - James McAvoy is mesmerizing - and the more complex dynamic between the central characters. The thematic exploration of politeness and the pressure to adhere to social norms, even when they conflict with personal safety, remains thought-provoking, though the credit here goes to the original. For those who prefer a "softer" experience in terms of emotional and physical violence, this remake is a valid version that, while not surpassing the original, manages to deliver a distinct experience for the audience. After all, both stories can coexist and appeal to different viewers. Pick your favorite or, better yet, enjoy both." Rating: B+