Bonus Review: Speak No Evil

An American Remake Of A Recent Horror Hit

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INTRODUCTION

This is a quick review of the newly released film Speak No Evil. Keep in mind this is but one of the many movies I watch every year, and that whatever initial grade I come up for this film could change for better or worse with time. To better keep up to date with both my thoughts on other movies and if my feelings on this film changed, follow me on Letterboxd.

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THE PLOT

Via Letterboxd: 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.

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QUICK REVIEW

It’s that time of year when some Halloween enthusiasts start getting into the spooky spirit early. Don’t get me wrong, Halloween is my personal favorite holiday, but kicking off the season around Labor Day feels a bit over-the-top. That said, in a few short weeks, I’ll be fully immersed in Halloween, and before long, we’ll all be knee-deep in it.

Just last week, after the delight that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice delivered (which I considered a damn near-perfect Halloween movie), and just in time with people getting into the spirit of the season for the macabre, we're now treated to a brand new horror film. Well... sorta’.

Speak No Evil is an American remake of a Danish film that was originally released just two years ago. The Danish version quickly gained a cult following, and in some circles, it's already considered a contemporary horror classic. However, I must confess, despite seeing it frequently logged by several follows over on Letterboxd, I never actually got around to watching the original.

In a way, though, I feel like I have. I came across mention of the film in a video essay about social anxiety in horror. The essay ended up spoiling the entire plot, and with the American remake just around the corner, I already knew how it all played out.

So while I can’t offer a direct comparison to the original, I’m familiar with the story beats and how it all comes to a head during its climax. And, to be honest (no spoilers), knowing how the original concludes made me a bit anxious about watching this remake. Let’s just say, It's not the kind of horror ending I typically enjoy.

That said, the trailer for this film was seemingly everywhere. It played before almost every movie I saw in theaters, as if the universe was telling me I HAD to watch it. So how did it hold up? Is it worth the time for horror fans? Is it perfect for those starting their Halloween season early? And does it matter if you’ve seen the original?