‘Speak No Evil’ Has Laughter, Chills, and Thrills

On Saturday morning, September 14, 2024, I had the funny, chilling, and thrilling pleasure of watching James McAvoy steal the show in the latest Blumhouse production, Speak No Evil. McAvoy began as an uninhibited hipster, then brought out his inner monster on the family led by Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy. Then Davis and McNairy brought the thunder in protecting their kids similar to Fox's The Gifted TV series, and let’s just say it’s awesome that both the adults and their kids went toe-to-toe with James McAvoy.

James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi as Paddy and Ciara in 'Speak No Evil.' Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

While on vacation in Italy, the Dalton family, consisting of Louise, Ben, and their daughter Agnes, played by Davis, McNairy, and Alix West Lefler, respectively, met Paddy, Ciara, and their son Ant, played by McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi, and Dan Hough. The interaction went well, despite the Dalton parents being put off by Paddy's unhinged friendly demeanor. When they met again at Paddy's farmhouse, Paddy's aggressive behavior and secrets about it began to unfold.

James McAvoy as Paddy in 'Speak No Evil.' Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

For a psychological horror, it was jocular from McAvoy's character of Paddy borrowing and dragging a chair from the Daltons at their hotel to his and Franciosi's characters showing more affection than them. McAvoy may have had some of the young Charles Xavier charm return to him. Then, once he began to let out his inner thriller character,  it was like watching a repeat of his prior role as Wesley Gibson from Wanted. 

Back to the humor, it was funny when Paddy sang along to 'Eternal Flame' by The Bangles in a driving scene early on, then sang it again as he was wreaking havoc on the farm. He also appeared to be in great physical shape for the role, so great job for that, Mr. McAvoy.

The praise should also go to Mackenzie Davis as Louise Dalton. Despite occasional marriage, parental, and personal trials, she brought out her warrior instincts and fiercely fought off Paddy to save her husband and child.

From left to right: Alix West Lefler as Agnes Dalton, Mackenzie Davis as Louise Dalton, and Scoot McNairy as Ben Dalton in 'Speak No Evil.' Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

As for the kids, I don't have much to say about the performance of Lefler as Agnes Dalton or Hough as Ant, but more about their characters. Throughout the film, Ben is annoyed with Agnes' attachment to her bunny, Hoppy, and wants her to grow up. It was crazy that for Agnes to mature, she had to spend a weekend on a farm owned by a countercultural psycho. The same thing goes for Ant, who like Ferb from Phineas and Ferb, made up in action what he lacked in speaking. The other thing to appreciate besides that was the scene where the kids danced to 'Cotton Eye Joe' by Rednex. 

This was my first time watching a psychological horror starring James McAvoy, and I was impressed that he went from pacifist Professor X to amiable yet crazy Paddy. In addition to McAvoy, Davis, Lefler, and Hough, great work to Jessie Harrison, the Hair and Makeup Supervisor, Nicole Stafford, the Hair and Makeup Designer, and Jason Evans, the Visual Effects Supervisor, on-set.

I give 'Speak No Evil' a 7.5/10. Keep up the good work, cast and crew. And though it was filmed in Canada for a bit, it was nice to see the English countryside in the final result. And it turned out to be a remake of a film from 2022 with the same name. Check it out if you can.