Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Speak No Evil Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker November 19, 2024

The latest film from Blumhouse, the producers of such films as 'The Black Phone', 'Get Out', and 'M3gan'. 'Speak No Evil' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal. The film stars James McAvoy ('X-Men: First Class', 'Split'), Mackenzie Davis ('Terminator: Dark Fate', 'Black Mirror'), and Aisling Franciosi ('The Fall (2013-2016), 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter') in a tale of a family that spends a weekend at the country home of a family they met on vacation that doesn't turn out quite the way they had expected. 'Speak No Evil' boasts strong technical merits and a reasonable assortment of extras. This Blu-ray release comes with a slipcover and a Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere. A DVD is not included.

British director James Watkins's (The Woman in Black, Eden Lake) latest effort is a remake of a 2022 Danish film of the same name by director Christian Tafdrup. After some modifications, Watkin's film sees Ben, Louise, and young Agnes Dalton (Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, and Alix West Lefler) vacationing in Italy where they meet Paddy, Clara, and their disabled son Ant (James McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi, and Dan Hough). The two families hit it off and become fast friends, though they are sometimes shocked or surprised by Paddy's words and actions. Americans who have relocated to the UK and have yet to establish a social network or make friends in their adoptive home, after the vacation ends, they are happy to accept Paddy and Clara's invitation to spend a weekend with them at their home in the English countryside. What begins as an idyllic weekend getaway, doesn't remain that way for long.

The central conceit of the film is one to which most who approach Speak No Evil can relate and easily accept. When couples or families go on vacation, it's not all that uncommon to find another couple or family with children of a similar age with whom there's a connection. Once a quick friendship is established, dinners are shared and cities are explored as you learn more about your new traveling companions and their lives and experiences. Most are as fleeting as the vacations themselves, and despite the fun that was had, they fade into the ether on the flight or drive back home. But occasionally, there is that family or that couple with whom the friendship endures over the subsequent months and years, and it's in that space, that hope where Tafdrup's original idea for Speak No Evil was born.

McNairy and Davis's Ben and Louise are in an uncomfortable place in their lives. Their relocation to London has landed them in a city in which they have neither roots nor a support system. The move failed to reinvigorate one career and stymied another, generating tension, hostility, and resentment. Their strained marital relationship adds to the stress, with each of the two ignorant of or unwilling to do the correct things to repair the wounds that divide them. The two seem captivated and almost envious of the relationship between Paddy and Clara who live their life together with gusto and are always ready to indulge each other, take risks, and have fun with an obvious devil-may-care attitude. Likely this is at least in part what draws Ben and Louise to them; they who have been unwilling to take a chance since the less-than-ideal relocation and who are far more concerned with doing what's "right", inoffensive, and correct than to dream of daring to be carried away by any and every whim. But it's this focus on propriety and an unwillingness to offend that Watkins positions as of paramount importance. Had Ben and Louise been more keen on listening to their instincts than worrying if their actions would offend, things would undoubtedly have gone very differently.

It starts with small things. McAvoy's Paddy noisily rearranges pool furniture and dives into the water breaking the serene vibe in the small Italian resort. They engage in suggestive behavior in front of an open window in clear view of passersby, Ben, Louise, and Agnes being some of them. Paddy encourages Ben and Louise to go against their better judgment as he takes their daughter on a helmetless ride on a moped through the curving cobblestone streets. Then there is the rather inappropriate question he poses to a group of somewhat irritating fellow vacationers to purposefully prevent them from joining them for lunch. Propriety is gradually discarded as Paddy and Clara seek to incrementally provoke more and more to see just how much they can get away with. Ben and Louise may exchange a furtive glance, but they never say a word.

Those watching with a critical eye and a healthy dose of skepticism should, at some point, start picking up the clues that Watkins frequently dispenses. Arriving at Paddy and Clara's home for the first time, their guard should be up when they detect that the dwelling doesn't quite line up with the stereotypical home owned by a doctor. They should have said something when their and their daughter's accommodations do not meet expectations in terms of quality or cleanliness. Instead, excuse and explain away these and other things, even as Paddy and Clara's behavior escalates beyond what most would consider reasonable. Each event serves Watkins's desire to increase the tension and unease felt by the audience as embodied by Ben and Louise who become obviously more concerned and uncomfortable but feel trapped due to the bounds of politeness and social convention. These shackles prevent them from acting on their better judgment. Every reason to leave is met with a reason to stay, and by the time the truth of the situation is unequivocally revealed, it's far too late to simply leave.

With a small cast exploring and inhabiting a familiar yet foreign and finite number of locations, Speak No Evil works as well as it does due to the performances of McAvoy, Franciosi, and Davis. McAvoy displays an uncanny ability to flip rapidly and effortlessly between charm and menace in his portrayal of Paddy. The boyish, impish glint in his eyes that obliges Ben and Luoise to forgive his transgressive behavior can vanish in an instant as his dead-eyed stare underscores anger, rage, and violent intent. Behaviorally he can just as rapidly vacillate between wise and refined and viscous and primal. Fanciosi's Clara displays a similar range but is less extreme as viewers are frequently left wondering as to the true nature of her character. As Louise, Davis is every bit the doting and concerned mother, and her maternal instincts drive her to find a deeper strength and motivation to protect that far exceeds anything she's likely experienced previously in her suburban existence. The conviction and determination she exudes make her every action credible whether it's an attempt to calm an agitated daughter or a clever and fearless resourcefulness when the chips are down.

The location is another asset. The country home is sprawling, yet claustrophobic. Its interior is populated with small, low-ceilinged rooms, most of which are rather cluttered, providing few places to run and even fewer to hide. Though the grounds are expansive, as evidenced by the long drive into the property from the country road and Paddy's own comments, fleeing the house offers similarly little sanctuary or assistance as the closest neighbors reside a considerable distance away and are most certainly well out of earshot. Straying too far from the buildings which Paddy and Clara know exceedingly well and use to their advantage, simply leaves Ben, Louise, and Agnes in the impenetrable darkness and increases the sense of isolation. That isolation also drives the potential for danger to higher levels. The remoteness of the home means no action is impossible and no help is forthcoming.

Speak No Evil Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot digitally with Arri Alexa cameras and employing a mix of anamorphic and spherical lenses, Speak No Evil looks terrific on Blu-ray. Detail levels are typically extremely high, though there is some slight softness in certain shots resulting from the lens being used at the time. Due to the fantastic set dressing in the primary farmhouse locations, viewers are able to isolate and examine the home's seemingly endless array of trinkets Paddy and Clara have gathered during their travels. Many are subtlety creepy, dark, or disturbing, so the ability to appreciate these and other pieces of the home's decor helps establish the mood and atmosphere of the film and underscore the notion that while things may seem normal, something isn't quite right. Interiors, in general, yield numerous flaws in the plaster, wear, and age on doors, counters, and other surfaces, and wood grain shines through on tables and exposed ceiling beams and railings. Facial particulars are also on display, with every bit of stubble visible on McAvoys' face, and every line of worry and concern seen on Davis and McNairy's. Exteriors fare equally well with the many brick surfaces presenting with fantastic, rough, tactile realism. Primaries have some occasions to pop and colors are very nicely saturated. The image possesses great depth and dimensionality. Skin tones are universally healthy. It's an excellent transfer.

Speak No Evil Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Speak No Evil has a very pleasing English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio track. Dialogue is handled well which is of primary importance as this is a very dialogue-heavy film. It is always front and center focused and properly prioritized, with shouts, screams, and nervous whispers all handled equally well. A powerful blast of '80s music appropriately threatens to drown out a character who sings along but can't quite overcome the stereo's volume in a funny but awkward moment. However, in all instances, music is handled well, whether it be characters singing while on a hike, atmospheric music, or tracks that are allowed to dominate. Vocals are never less than clear, instruments are precise, and bass is impressive. Sound effects are largely mundane and ordinary elements such as closing car doors, though more exciting sounds like gunshots, for example, have considerable depth and realism. No sibilance issues or distortion was detected. It's an excellent track.

Speak No Evil Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Speak No Evil is outfitted with a variety of on-disc supplemental features which include:

• Nuclear Families (8.53) - Director James Watkins, McAvoy, Davis, and others from the cast discuss the film, their characters, and several other topics. Each displays an obvious enthusiasm for the project as the piece weaves clips from the film in with their comments. This feature contains spoilers, so viewers are advised to proceed with caution.

• A Horrifying Crescendo (5.21) - McAvoy, Davis, and Watkins comment on the awkward, uncomfortable, and cringeworthy scenes that populate and drive the set-up of the film's climax, and the horror that always lingers just below the surface. Again, this piece contains spoilers.

• The Farmhouse of Horrors (4.00) - This brief piece puts the location of much of the film's action in the spotlight. Watkins explains that as the structure had been empty for decades, both interiors and exteriors were shot here. This piece also contains spoilers.

• Feature Commentary with Writer and Director James Watkins - In this calm and obviously extemporaneous commentary Watkins lets the on-screen action drive what he chooses to discuss. He covers a wide range of topics including shooting locations, cinematography, musical choices, and audio cues as he and his team worked to document the horror of contemporary everyday life and a situation that is grounded in real life. He falls silent from time to time to watch with the audience and while that does happen with some frequency, such moments of silence do not last for long. He spends a fair amount of time discussing the clues or warnings that lace McAvoy's performance and the English farmhouse location. It's an enjoyable, informative, and relaxed listen. It should go without saying that the commentary is riddled with spoilers.

Speak No Evil Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The enjoyability of horror films often comes down to the choices the characters make. The more authentic and believable the choices, the greater the suspension of disbelief and the greater the terror. In the case of Speak No Evil, most of the choices made are somehow understandable but one in particular will have seasoned genre viewers rolling their eyes. Oftentimes, though, if the characters made better decisions there wouldn't be much of a film and that needs to be taken into consideration. In the case of Speak No Evil, that one "poor" decision isn't enough to significantly undermine the work done by McAvoy, Davis, and Franciosi, and Watkins builds a delightfully unsettling and creepy atmosphere in a film that will add another layer to The Bangles's classic "Eternal Flame'. Recommended.