“Borat” made a splash by proving how relentlessly polite Americans can be.
That decency stalks the main couple in “Speak No Evil,” just added to Peacock and available on Blu-ray and VOD platforms. The 2024 shocker grossed $36.9 million at the US box office and snagged mostly positive reviews.
The film, a U.S. remake of a Dutch 2022 original, nails the chasm between politeness and pragmatism.
Had the main couple embraced the latter the shocking events that unfold would never happen. Instead, we’re left with a conventional third act that uses the couple’s patience to masterful effect.
Ben and Louise (Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis) spend part of their lush Italian vacation getting to know a wild couple and their mute child. Paddy and Ciara (James McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi) are lively and unbound by societal norms.
It’s intoxicating to be in the same room with them.
Charisma has its perks, and Paddy has enough for four grown adults (and their respective children). He’s a semi-retired doctor with an appetite for life, and he sees something in Ben and Louise.
Maybe they’re just kind enough not to call him out on his tomfoolery. Even extroverts need an audience, right?
So Paddy invites the couple to their rural home, an oasis where smart phones give way to tangible pleasures like locally-sourced meals.
Who could resist?
They should, of course. There’s something off about this couple, from the way they parent their special-needs child to Paddy’s exuberance.
Take it down a notch, willya?
The beauty of “Speak No Evil” is in how much Ben and Louise are willing to take before they snap. Ben wants to be an Alpha Male like Paddy, so he defensively backs him even when Louise cringes at his behavior.
Score one for the Missus, only it’s … complicated. The couple is nursing some emotional bruises. That makes them less willing to challenge Paddy.
James Watkins’ SPEAK NO EVIL with James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, and Aisling Franciosi is on Peacock. If you haven’t seen the Danish original, that one is available on Shudder and on demand. pic.twitter.com/X3dpbiTUom
— Film Festival (@LifeIsAFilmFest) December 6, 2024
Films like “Speak No Evil” fail when the third act can’t measure up to the tasty narrative. “Speak No Evil” solves that problem with blunt force storytelling.
Yes, the psychological shift is wobbly. And it’s hard not to glance back and not see some flaws.
How did a couple like Ben and Louise afford that Italian getaway again? Isn’t he struggling to find work? Elon Musk might blush at that trip’s price tag.
Other questions similarly nag at us, but we’re too invested to care. The use of a child’s toy to move the story forward is both efficient and shameful.
No matter. Director James Watkins, who previously delivered a withering look at evil via 2008’s “Eden Lake,” uncorks a nasty, satisfying finale.
McAvoy proved how versatile he could be with 2016’s “Split.” That movie showcased his willingness to devour scenery on command. He dines on everything not bolted down during “Evil,” too, but it’s exhilarating in a different way.
Even when Paddy ignores social cues there’s something endearing about his passion. It’s infectious, which makes the tolerance shown by his guests relatable.
You hate to hate this guy. (At least he didn’t present Ben and Louise with a neatly bagged fecal specimen like Borat once did.)
“Speak No Evil” isn’t mean for serious rumination. It’s a slow burn until it’s not, and that’s precisely what’s needed. Audiences won’t help but wonder how they’d react given how far Paddy and Ciara push our heroes, and what might the final straw be for them.
Or is it rude to pass judgment, even in a horror movie?
HiT or Miss: “Speak No Evil” has its flaws, but its fusion of awkward clashes and full-blown terror makes it irresistible.
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