Yahoo Movies James McAvoy's UK-set horror remake lands strong Rotten Tomatoes rating
James McAvoy's horror remake Speak No Evil has landed a strong Rotten Tomatoes score as it is released in UK cinemas.
Directed by James Watkins, the psychological thriller sees an American couple (Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis) and their daughter (Alix West Lefler) invited to spend a weekend at a British couple (McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi) and their son's (Dan Hough) idyllic country estate.
But as the behaviour of the British couple becomes more and more anti-social, what should be a dream holiday turns into a living nightmare and a fight for survival.
It is a remake of Christian Tafdrup's 2022 Danish horror film of the same name.
Related: Speak No Evil star James McAvoy explains “walking a tightrope” with new role
At the time of writing, the remake has scored an impressive 89% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes based on 62 reviews.
Here is what the critics have been saying:
Associated Press
"Speak No Evil becomes an entertaining but routine horror flick, with predictable results. But for a while, it’s a way more intelligent film."
Little White Lies
"Watkins’ slick direction and McAvoy’s frankly terrifying performance make this an effective, worthy if not essential entry into the 'If you go out to the woods today…' creepy canon."
Related: Speak No Evil director defends changing the original's bleak ending
Time Out
"The story’s grimmest edges have been shorn off, despite Watkins teaming up with the Tafdrups on a retooled screenplay. Still, this alternative path is seriously unnerving in its own way."
Empire
"It’s not Speak No Evil (2022) — because what would be the point of that? — but Speak No Evil (2024) is a quality horror-suspense picture."
Slant Magazine
"The finale, though, is the biggest insult of all. Where the original has a stinger in its tail, this Speak No Evil gutlessly takes the story in a completely new direction, and it’s bound to infuriate everyone but fans of the most paint-by-numbers, morally unambiguous genre cinema."
Split star McAvoy has defended the remake's decision to change the ending of the film, saying the original is more of a horror film while his adaptation leans into its thriller elements.
"I think [2024's Speak No Evil] is less of a horror, and it's more of a suspenseful psychological thriller, whereas the behaviour in the other movie is so alien, I think, at times, or such an extreme version of human behaviour, that it feels more like a horror," he told Digital Spy.
"And James [Watkins] made something slightly different, which is all good, and there’s space for both, and they're both really good, but I think this is the right end for us."
Speak No Evil arrives in cinemas on September 12 in the UK and on September 13 in the US.
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