James McAvoy has been praised for his sinister performance(Image: UNIVERSAL)
Cinema enthusiasts seeking a compelling psychological thriller need look no further than this title, currently available on Netflix.
Speak No Evil, released in 2024, is a remake of a 2022 Danish-Dutch film of the same name.
The story centres on an American couple holidaying in Italy, where they encounter a British family who invite them to spend the weekend at their secluded farmhouse in the English countryside.
What begins as a promising rural getaway in Devon rapidly spirals into sheer terror, as the American couple uncovers their hosts’ deeply disturbing intentions. Speak No Evil features The Last King of Scotland actor and Hollywood heavyweight James McAvoy as Brit Paddy, alongside The Fall’s Aisling Franciosi portraying his wife Ciara.
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James McAvoy stars in Speak No Evil(Image: UNIVERSAL)
Canadian actress Mackenzie Davis, known for Halt and Catch Fire, takes on the role of Louise Dalton, while True Detective’s Scoot McNairy plays her husband Ben.
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The film has garnered considerable praise from viewers on both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, reports the Express.
One IMDb reviewer enthused: “The setup is masterful. Nothing big happens this entire act, yet I found myself smiling and intrigued. It’s a perfect example of how you can still create intrigue without needing action, or even worse, without having an opening scene that spoils what happens later in the movie.”
Another commented: “James McAvoy-what a powerhouse. Honestly, just put this guy in every horror movie from now on, especially if he’s the villain.”
Speak No Evil is a remake of the 2022 film(Image: UNIVERSAL)
They concluded: “Speak No Evil is easily one of the best horror films of the year, in my opinion.”
Another viewer awarded 9/10, describing Speak No Evil as “surprisingly great” and noting: “This movie had my anxiety level through the roof – but that’s exactly what it was supposed to do, right? James McAvoy is so incredibly good at making the audience feel uneasy throughout the film, slowly at first and then keeps raising the bar every time he’s on screen.”
A further reviewer commented: “James McAvoy’s acting was phenomenal. The way he portrayed the character with such depth made it feel like he wasn’t even acting.”
They continued: “The ending had me on edge, screaming at the screen. It’s been a while since a thriller or horror movie made me feel this way.”
One viewer gave a perfect 10/10 score, headlining their review “Heart racing thriller” and writing: “I’m a McAvoy fan, he’s a vastly underated actor but I went into this wondering if the haters were going to be right.
“No they weren’t, not at all, this is a slow burn , tense, creepy film which builds to an explosive crescendo [sic].”
Another fan shared on Rotten Tomatoes: “Loved this movie. Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire movie. I don’t review movies, that explains itself.”
