News

The rage virus is back. This year brings the long-awaited 28 Years Later, plunging audiences back into the horror saga that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland began over two decades ago. It’s a bonafide cinema event, and the infected have even taken over the pages of Empire – this month’s issue features a major look at what’s in store in Boyle and Garland’s comeback.

You’ll find the issue on newsstands from Thursday 16 January (order a copy online here) – but first up, here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.

28 Years Later

Start running now. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland bring Empire into the heart of their horror sequel – also speaking to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes and more about evolving the infected apocalypse.

The Monkey

Last year, Osgood Perkins changed the horror game with Longlegs. In 2025, he’s going even wilder with Stephen King adaptation The Monkey – an absurdist,...

On this episode of Daily Dead's official podcast, co-hosts Bryan Christopher, Scott Drebit, and Derek Anderson discuss what they've been watching lately, including the religion-fueled frights of Heretic, the vacation horror comedy Get Away, and the unsettling tension of Speak No Evil (the remake of Christian Tafdrup's 2022 film of the same name). The self-proclaimed "Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse" also share what they're looking forward to the most in 2025, from the return of the rage virus in 28 Years Later to new Predator films on the horizon and Oz Perkins' next movie, The Monkey (an adaptation of Stephen King's short story of the same name).

Looking for more scary good Corpse Club content? Missed out on our previous episodes? Don't despair, our entire backlog is waiting for you on our website!

The post Listen to the Corpse Club Discuss Heretic, Get Away, and Speak No Evil on a New...

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, 2024 Edition

Season’s Greetings, one and all! 2024 is almost over.

Okay! Now that we’re done reminiscing, let’s talk about my favorite horror things from the last twelve months. They’re in no order, but they’re all super cool and worthy of your attention.

The Cairnes’ Brothers’ Late Night With The Devil scratched an itch I didn’t know I had – a gaudy ‘70s talk show airs a live exorcism for ratings. Taut and creepy, it’ll stick with you.

This particular reimagining of my youth is pretty much spot on with the aesthetic seediness and eye-popping ugliness we were forced to endure. (Corduroy. The horror…) Beyond that, it tells a compelling story of a late-night host trying to hang on to his sanity; the exorcism “stunt” is a last-ditch effort to boost ratings, but as it proves to be all too real,...

It’s been a banner year for Sebastian Stan, with his two Golden Globe nods on Monday the icing on the cake. He’s up for Lead Actor in both the Drama and Musical/Comedy categories, for “The Apprentice” and “A Different Man,” respectively. And Deadline reports that Stan shows no signs of slowing down his buzzy output, as a new interview details three upcoming projects for the actor.

Continue reading Sebastian Stan Confirms He’ll Star In New Films From Cristian Mungiu, Christian Tafdrup & Justin Kurzel at The Playlist.

Are you ready to experience the dread, the suspense, and the terror of one of the most talked-about psychological horrors of recent years? Now’s your chance to own a copy of Speak No Evil on DVD, the original Danish masterpiece that has left audiences around the world speechless.

Dubbed “the most shocking film at Sundance” by Dread Central and praised by The Guardian as “brilliantly wild”, Speak No Evil is a harrowing blend of social commentary and unrelenting tension that you won’t soon forget.

Directed by Christian Tafdrup (Revenge), Speak No Evil tells the story of Bjørn and Louise, a Danish couple who accept an invitation to stay with a charming Dutch family they met on holiday. What begins as a polite, idyllic visit quickly descends into a psychological nightmare as sinister intentions come to light. The film explores the chilling consequences of ignoring red flags and the...

On Monday, Sebastian Stan pulled off a rare feat, scoring Golden Globe nominations for Lead Actor in both Drama and Musical/Comedy categories. Following the announcement, Stan got candid about upcoming projects with Cristian Mungiu, Christian Tafdrup and Justin Kurzel, his experience on the awards circuit with his nominated turn as Donald Trump in The Apprentice, and more.

In discussing his upcoming slate, Stan seemed particularly excited about a project not yet announced with Cristian Mungiu, the Romanian filmmaker behind Palme d’Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which he expects to shoot next year.

“I was born in Romania. I still speak the language, and I’ve been trying to find a project where I can go back and tap back into that history that I have,” said the actor, “so I’m excited about working with him, and hopefully that’s going to come together.”

A second project...

James McAvoy's hit 2024 thriller Speak No Evil is one of the best horror remakes in recent years and is available to stream now. McAvoy is best known for his roles in films such as the Oscar-winner Atonement (2007) and the X-Men blockbusters of the 2010s, such as First Class (2011) and Days of Future Past (2014). McAvoy also starred in one of M. Night Shyamalan's greatest works, the 2016 psychological horror film Split featuring then-rising star Anya Taylor-Joy.

Speak No Evil is a remake of the 2022 original of the same name directed by Christian Tafdrup. The 2022 version takes place in Denmark and features a slate of impressive Danish actors such as Morten Burian and Sidsel Siem Koch. The 2024 British version of Speak No Evil, which has an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, is directed by UK-based filmmaker James Watkins. McAvoy leads the cast of Speak No Evil alongside Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi,...

An idyllic getaway turns into a nightmare in Blumhouse’s latest psychological horror thriller.

One of the huge benefits of a Peacock subscription is that it’s the exclusive streaming home for Universal movies - including terrifying Blumhouse pictures - shortly after their theatrical release… which means you don’t have to wait very long to watch James McAvoy terrorize his guests in the psychological horror thriller “Speak No Evil,” premiering on Friday, Dec. 6. The story follows Ben and Louise, an American couple, who bring their daughter to a British couple’s country estate for what seems like a perfect getaway. But things take a dark turn when they realize their hosts have sinister secrets. Watch “Speak No Evil” with a subscription to Peacock.

How to watch ‘Speak No Evil’ When: Friday, Dec 6, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. Et Where: Peacock Stream: Watch with a subscription to Peacock. Sign Up $7.99+ / month peacocktv.

To celebrate the release of Speak No Evil available on DVD and Digital from 2nd December, we are giving away DVDs to 2 lucky winners!

The original Speak No Evil garnered praise and awards galore on its release in 2022, and now this unnerving, dread-inducing and unrelentingly gripping social satire of a chiller gets its home release this winter.

With the 2024 remake currently thrilling and chilling in UK cinemas, Acorn Media International is pleased to announce that the release of the original Danish horror from Christian Tafdrup is set for its DVD and digital release on 2 December.

The story follows a reserved Danish family – Bjorn (Morten Burian), Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch) and daughter, Agnes (Liva Forsberg) – who are on holiday in Tuscany. When they meet a fun-loving Dutch family, Patrick (Fedja van Huet), Karin (Karina Smulders) and their son, Abel (Marius Damslev), the two families hit it off immediately.

Back home the...

Blumhouse and Universal’s Speak No Evil, a remake of the Danish horror film, is now available to buy on Digital and Blu-ray. The movie will soon be available to stream, starting December 6, only on Peacock.

Directed by James Watkins, the film stars Mackenzie Davis, James McAvoy, and Scoot McNairy (Argo).

Speak No Evil remake is about “a family invited to spend a whole weekend in a lonely home in the countryside, but as the weekend progresses, they realize that a dark side lies within the family who invited them.”

As of November 13, 2024, Speak No Evil has grossed $36.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $39.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $76.7 million.

In the United States and Canada, Speak No Evil was released alongside The Killer’s Game and Am I Racist?, and was projected to gross $10–13 million from 3,375 theaters in its opening weekend.

The film made $4.9 million on its first day,...

December is usually the month where horror takes a break, making way for more feel-good, romantic comedies to dominate the entertainment scene. Well, not this December. One of this year's best horror films will be released on Peacock that month. Can you guess which movie it is?

Drum roll, please! If you didn't get the chance to see Golden Globe-nominated actor James McAvoy give one of his greatest performances ever when Speak No Evil hit theaters back in September, you'll soon be able to watch this film from the comfort of your home. No, you didn't read that wrong. Speak No Evil is slated to come to Peacock this December. The exact streaming release date is Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, so make sure to mark your calendar!

Speak No Evil is a psychological horror film that was written and helmed by James Watkins, who is best known for directing the gothic supernatural...

Peacock announced this morning that its psychological horror thriller Speak No Evil, starring James McAvoy, will begin streaming exclusively on the platform on December 6.

The film drew quite positive reviews in its September release — no easy feat for an English-language remake of a recent, highly lauded international title — and grossed over $76 million worldwide. Hailing from Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, it adapts Christian Tafdrup’s Danish pic of the same name, released in 2022.

The story follows Americans Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise (Mackenzie Davis), who after befriending a British couple with a mute son, accept an unusual invitation to bring their daughter for a weekend at an idyllic country estate. Yet when they discover their hosts are hiding sinister motives, Ben and Louise fear their family may be pawns in a disturbing plot. Led by McAvoy as a charismatic man masking unspeakable darkness, a dream holiday warps into an unnerving nightmare.

Prepare for a chilling December as Christian Tafdrup’s critically acclaimed Danish horror, Speak No Evil, finally arrives on DVD and digital in the UK. Acorn Media International has announced the home release date for 2 December 2024, allowing audiences to experience what many critics have hailed as one of the most unnerving films of recent years.

Initially released in 2022, Speak No Evil took the festival circuit by storm, premiering to high praise at Sundance and drawing accolades across the board. This psychological thriller examines the often sinister undertones of social etiquette, where manners and restraint clash with primal survival instincts.

The plot follows a seemingly ordinary Danish family – Bjorn (Morten Burian), Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch), and their young daughter, Agnes (Liva Forsberg) – as they vacation in Tuscany. There, they cross paths with a charismatic Dutch family, Patrick (Fedja van Huet), Karin (Karina Smulders), and their son, Abel (Marius Damslev), and an instant connection is formed.

The Speak No Evil remake has become Blumhouse's highest-grossing movie of the year after passing a new box office milestone. Directed by James Watkins, the horror film serves as a remake of Christian Tafdrup's 2022 Danish film of the same name, with a story that follows a family spending a weekend in another family's vacation home only to find that their hosts have sinister intentions. The Speak No Evil reviews have been generally positive thus far and the film got off to a strong start at the box office last month.

Collider now reveals that Speak No Evil has surpassed Night Swim's (2024) $54 million gross at the worldwide box office to become Blumhouse's highest-grossing release of the year. The remake's worldwide total now stands at an impressive $59 million, comprising $29.4 million domestic and $29.5 million from overseas territories.

More to come...

Source: Collider

Speak No Evil (2024) 8/10

Speak No Evil is a 2024 horror-thriller film by writer-director James Watkins.

Shudder has acquired North America and UK & Ireland rights from Mister Smith Entertainment to Sasha Rainbow’s feature debut Grafted ahead of its Spanish premiere at Sitges Film Festival this weekend.

The body horror screens in the Midnight X-Treme strand on Saturday and Sunday (October 5 and 6) and follows Wei, a shy Chinese scholarship student hiding a genetic facial birthmark, who travels to New Zealand to study medical research at a prestigious university.

When Wei is shunned by her social butterfly cousin Angela and her glamorous friends, she immerses herself in her late father’s research into a revolutionary skin grafting procedure that could help her.

Never By Night: "This Halloween from Jonathan Chance, writer, creator of nightmare hits Permadeath and Cover The Dead With Lime comes a brand-new collection of horror stories. For anthology fans new and old (school) comes a fresh take on the old familiar and this four tale 80-page graphic novel is no one-shot. Its a year-shot fright pass to a brand-new scare library.

Welcome to your newest annual event read."

To purchase, visit:

Amazon: https://a.co/d/ajjjxok Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-by-night-jonathan-chance/1146304149

Never By Night

Disturbing Passages into the Unknown

There are no hosts. You're all alone.

---

Speak No Evil Arrives 10/1 to Own or Rent on Digital: "Continuing to terrify audiences in its theatrical run, the new Blumhouse thriller, Speak No Evil, will be available exclusively on digital platforms to own or rent tomorrow, October 1, 2024, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “painfully tense,...

James McAvoy reteamed with his Split and Glass producers at Blumhouse for a psychological thriller called Speak No Evil, which Universal Pictures gave a theatrical release earlier this month – on September 13th, to be exact. In the two weeks since that release, Speak No Evil has earned over $57 million at the global box office, on a budget of $15 million. And now it’s time for its digital release. The film will be available to rent or purchase through digital platforms, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Microsoft Movies & TV, and Movies Anywhere) as of tomorrow, October 1st, with a Blu-ray and DVD release to follow on November 19th.

James Watkins, whose previous credits include Eden Lake and The Woman in Black, wrote and directed the film, which centers on a family who takes a dream holiday to an idyllic country house, only to have the vacation turn into a psychological nightmare. Speak No Evil...

Blumhouse has just crossed an impressive 2024 box office milestone thanks to the continued box office success of Speak No Evil. Serving as an English-language remake of the 2022 Danish film of the same name by director Christian Tafdrup, James Watkin's Speak No Evil follows a family as they go to spend the weekend at another family's countryside home, soon finding that something sinister is going on. The film, which stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, hit theaters in mid-September, earing mostly positive reviews.

A new report from Collider now reveals that Speak No Evil has grossed $43 million worldwide, comprising $22 million domestic and $21 million from overseas territories. This total doesn't just make the film, which is budgeted at $15 million, a success, but it means Blumhouse, led by CEO Jason Blum, has now crossed $150 million grossed worldwide in 2024. Though not all of the company's 2024 films have been hits on their own,...

Given that the best horror movies endeavor to embroil their characters in harrowing events, it adds a layer of pathos for the audience if these characters are also charismatic and compelling or simply innocent and undeserving. Indeed, there are times at which characters dont seem to get the endings they truly deserve. Whether they go out with a bang, sacrificing themselves for the good of the group, or become tragic figures who suffer unspeakable fates, many horror icons leave us longing for an alternative outcome.

Certain characters captivate viewers, their presence often becoming a key reason why audiences stay invested in the film, only to be devastated when our favorite ally meets an untimely end. Shocking movie endings are unforgettable, and character deaths are often easy fodder for big audience responses. But risks like this can leave viewers either emotionally shattered by their most beloved character's demise or fiendishly frustrated by how their story concludes.

The original Speak No Evil director shares his input on the ending changes to the 2024 remake, and the comments are unfavorable. The remake follows a similar premise to the original 2022 movie, where a British couple invites an American family to their countryside, only to see their visit take a sinister turn. There is a drastic change to the Speak No Evil remake's ending, where the survivors overcome the hosts and leave the cottage alive. It's a stark contrast to the original's bleak conclusion, with the visiting Danish couple being stoned to death and the Dutch pair continuing their murderous spree.

While speaking on the Danish radio show Kulturen (via NME), 2022's Speak No Evil director and co-writer Christian Tafdrup was critical of the ending changes in the 2024 version. The filmmaker particularly noted the American storytelling of good defeating evil, acknowledging the remake could never replicate the bleak ending from the...

Alex Proyas, director of the 1994 version of The Crow, made it very clear that he wasn’t happy about the existence of this year’s The Crow reboot – and now Christian Tafdrup, director of the 2022 Danish film Gæsterne, a.k.a. Speak No Evil (read our review Here) has followed in Proyas’s footsteps, revealing that he was not impressed by the recently released American remake of his film (you can read our 8/10 review of the remake Here), even though he received an executive producer credit on the film.

James Watkins, whose previous credits include Eden Lake and The Woman in Black, wrote and directed the remake, which centers on a family who takes a dream holiday to an idyllic country house, only to have the vacation turn into a psychological nightmare. Tafdrup’s version of the story, which he wrote with his brother Mads Tafdrup, had the following synopsis:...

James Watkins’ take on the Danish horror movie Speak No Evil with the James McAvoy starrer of the same name has been gaining momentum with each passing day. The movie also presented the Scottish actor in a darker tone, bringing back the same horror and fear-filled sequences from the original.

However, as soon as the viewers witnessed his serial killer character Paddy, there were several headlines stating that this character is apparently based on social media personality Andrew Tate.

A still from Speak No Evil || Credits: Universal Pictures

The actor did mention Tate in one of his past interviews. But now, McAvoy’s new interview detailed how his comments were taken out of context.

James McAvoy Denies Any Similarity Between His Speak No Evil Character and Andrew Tate Andrew Tate in a still from the George Janko podcast || Credits: YouTube

James McAvoy, with his remarkable performance as Paddy in Speak No Evil,...

If you're a horror fan, you're familiar with Blumhouse Productions (cited as Blumhouse from here out). Even if you're not a horror fan, you've probably watched a Blumhouse film without knowing it ("Whiplash?" "Jem and the Holograms?" "Tooth Fairy?"). Jason Blum's nightmare factory is synonymous with today's mainstream horror pillars, securing the rights to everything from "Halloween" to "The Exorcist" and beyond. Indeed, it's impossible to banter about our contemporary horror era without acknowledging how prevalent and prodigious Blumhouse has become — so why does it feel like it's ghosting us this year?

Blumhouse decimated last year's horror movie market. In 2023, Blum's juggernaut scared up nearly $800 million worldwide in box office totals. Emma Tammi's video game adaptation "Five Nights at Freddy's" boasted a high score of $297 million on a $20 million budget — one of nine films released by Blumhouse. Now, there's no metric for reporting for streaming titles like...

Warning: The following article contains Major Spoilers for Speak No Evil (2024).Speak No Evil director James Watkins clarifies the relationship between Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi). In the movie, the couple are revealed to be serial killers who lure families into their house to kill them, except for the child, whom they cut their tongue off. The child is used to lure the next family into their trap, and they don't know about Paddy and Ciara's true nature until it's too late.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Watkins spoke about the nature of Paddy and Ciara's relationship. Stating that their relationship is rather dark and abusive, the filmmaker also believes that the two love each other and that both distinct elements seem to co-exist within the two. He also discussed how there is a sick irony with the couple, that they are deeply in love, while the couple,...

Worldwide box office September 13-15 RankFilm (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l)Territories 1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros) $80.3m $264.3m $28.7m $76.3m 77 2. Speak No Evil (Universal) $20.8m $20.8m $9.3m $9.3m 74 3. Veteran 2: I, The Executioner (Cje&m) $15m $15m $15m $15m 1 4. Deadpool & Wolverine (Disney) $10.9m $1.3bn $5.7m $683.5m 53 5. Stand By Me (various) $9.8m $9.9m $9.8m $9.9m 1 6. It Ends With Us (Sony) $9.3m $325.4m $7.3m $180.6m 62 7. Alien: Romulus (Disney) $8.7m $330.6m $6.3m $229.4m 85 8. Despicable Me 4 (Universal) $6.7m $940m $5.6m $580.6m 85 9. The Greatest Of All Time (various) $5.9m $46.7m $5.5m $42.6m 17 10. Am I Racist? (Sdg) $4.7m $4.7m - - 1

Credit: Comscore.

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Speak No Evil is a psychological horror thriller film written and directed by James Watkins. Based on the 2022 Danish film of the same name written by Mads and Christian Tafdrup, the James McAvoy film follows the story of an American family as their dream holiday at a British family’s idyllic country estate turns into a nightmare because of a psychotic man. Speak No Evil also stars Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Scoot McNairy, Dan Hough, Alix West Lefler, and Motaz Malhees. So, if you loved the thrilling story, immense tension, and compelling characters in Speak No Evil here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Speak No Evil (AMC+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Shudder

Speak No Evil is a Danish psychological horror thriller film directed by Christian Tafdrup from a screenplay co-written by Mads and Christian Tafdrup.

Back in 2022, Christian Tafdrup’s Danish social satire was all the rage for a number of reasons. Aside from the original Speak No Evil being a tantalizing thriller and a glum parable about the pitfalls of social niceties, what got Tafdrup’s film a lot of attention, both good and bad, was its jarringly depressing ending. The story of Bjorn and Louise losing everything that mattered to them in the process of being “nice” was as shocking as it was eye-opening. Sure it attracted a lot of negative criticism pertaining to how the narrative demanded a suspension of disbelief. It was a tall order, there’s no denying that. But Tafdrup’s film never took itself too literally, and it never needed for us to see it as anything other than a haunting reminder of the dangers that are just one misstep away. Currently playing in theaters, the 2024 American remake...

Spoiler Alert: This interview contains plot details for the film Speak No Evil

Blumhouse and Universal’s latest horror-thriller Speak No Evil, written and directed by James Watkins, is a reimagining of a Danish film of the same name by Danish filmmaker Christian Tafdrup. The story follows a married couple, Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben (Scoot McNairy), who accept an invitation to visit the beautiful English countryside and stay at the remote farmhouse of another couple, Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) after meeting on vacation. Once they arrive, though, it becomes clear that the charming English couple are much more nefarious than they seem.

Here, the British filmmaker talks to Deadline about tailoring the Danish film for mainstream audiences, weaponizing the song “Eternal Flame,” casting and that ending.

Deadline: The original Danish film only came out two years ago. Would you call your version of Speak No Evil a remake?...

This article contains heavy spoilers for Speak No Evil.Speak No Evil star James McAvoy and director James Watkins discuss the changes made to the films ending. The remake of Christian Tafdrup's 2022 Danish movie follows an American family befriending a couple who invites them to their country estate, where things quickly start to seem off. Speak No Evil has an ensemble cast of McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Scoot McNairy, Alix West Lefler, and Dan Hough. The movie opened to great reviews, with many critics highlighting McAvoys terrifying performance.

While speaking with GamesRadar+, Watkins shared why he decided to change the brutal ending to 2022's Speak No Evil. He explained that he had already done a similar bleak ending with the 2008 movie, Eden Lake, which was not far from Tafdrup's film. The director felt it would be repetitive for audiences, so he took a different route by following the...

James Watkins’ Speak No Evil will make you reconsider house-guesting in the same way that the English filmmaker’s directorial debut, Eden Lake, did with camping in 2008.

In Eden Lake, Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender’s characters are on the verge of their engagement during a weekend camping trip in the English countryside, but their plans for a romantic experience quickly fall apart when a dastardly gang of local teenagers disrupts their jaunt to a point that becomes deadly. Ultimately, Watkins’ film ends in a memorably chilling way that is polar opposite from your stereotypical Hollywood ending.

14 years later, Watkins, on behalf of Blumhouse, set out to reimagine the Danish psychological horror-thriller Speak No Evil (2022), which also puts a couple through the wringer during a vacation getaway with their young child. And similar to Eden Lake, Christian Tafdrup’s Speak No Evil ends in oppressively haunting fashion. So, when Watkins...

The 2024 remake of Speak No Evil earns James McAvoy's best Rotten Tomatoes audience score since 2014. Directed by James Watkins, the movie follows couple Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis) as they visit the home of Paddy (James McAvoy), a man whom they met on vacation in Italy, alongside his wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and son Ant (Dan Hough). While the family appears to be friendly and welcoming, the Daltons soon find out that they are not who they say they are, and a dark secret is revealed.

Audiences are now rating the movie on Rotten Tomatoes, and the score is McAvoy's highest since 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past. At the time of publication of this article, the audience score sits at 85% based on over 250 verified ratings. This is exactly the same as the critics' score, which has a certified fresh 85% approval rating based on 141 reviews. The...

This article contains mild spoilers for "Speak No Evil."

When Blumhouse first announced that they would be remaking Christian Tafdrup's "Speak No Evil" from 2022, horror fans were bewildered about the possibility of a major American studio release daring to tackle one of the bleakest horror films in recent memory. It's the type of movie that genuinely earns the title of "shocking" without a hint of exaggeration, but calling the film's final moments "dismal [complimentary]" is an understatement. Fortunately, Blumhouse brought in writer/director James Watkins who is well-versed in gut-punch storytelling, and he more than delivered with his Americanized remake. Ahead of "Speak No Evil" finally hitting theaters, I had the opportunity to interview the film's star James McAvoy as well as Watkins to learn more about their approach to the remake. Most importantly, I wanted to know how Watkins decided what to keep from the original and what to change.

Speak No Evil star James McAvoy isn’t afraid to play the hits.

In Blumhouse and James Watkins’ reimagining of Christian Tafdrup’s psychological horror-thriller Speak No Evil (2022), McAvoy plays Paddy, a doctor who lives off the land with his wife and son in the English countryside. His free-spirited family meets Ben (Scoot McNairy), Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler) during an Italian vacation, prompting Paddy and his partner Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) to later invite the Daltons to their farmhouse for some R&r that quickly goes wrong.

McAvoy’s previous collaborations with Blumhouse on M. Night Shyamalan’s Split (2016) and Glass (2019) led to significant commercial success, dollar for dollar, and the Scottish actor’s performance as the Did-suffering Kevin Wendell Crumb has since put him in the ongoing conversation regarding overlooked genre-based performances that deserved genuine awards consideration. (You’ll often hear Lupita Nyong’o/Us,...

James Watkins’ “Speak No Evil” — a film in which quite a bit of evil gets spoken — is in many ways a familiar film. Unsuspecting innocent people find themselves in the company of strangers who say they’re trustworthy, but probably aren’t. The audience picks up on lots of red flags that either the heroes don’t notice or they brush off, for reasons that make sense to them at the time but put them in harm’s way. Eventually it all hits a crescendo of violence and thrills.

You could argue that if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, but it would be a pithy argument. Especially since “Speak No Evil” is a remake of a recent Danish film by Christian Tafdrup, so of course some people have seen it before. But especially-especially because this remake is an excellent, piercing horror movie in its own right.

In 2022, director Christian Tafdrup unleashed "Speak No Evil," a bleak, relentless examination of how politeness is one of the quickest ways to put us in danger. By disregarding red flags for the sake of social pleasantries, a Danish couple and their daughter find themselves trapped in the clutches of a Dutch couple at their house in The Netherlands countryside after befriending them while on vacation. But the more the Dutch couple reveal the truths about themselves, the more horrific the Danish family's life becomes.

The film's ending has since earned a notorious reputation, but as Tafdrup recalled in 2023, viewers from around the globe have related to the core conflict of suppressing one's feelings to better perform societal expectations. When it was announced that the horror mavens at Blumhouse were going to remake the film, hardcore horror fans lamented it "unnecessary." But in thinking about Tafdrup's comment, there's an argument to...

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse's remake of disturbing Danish horror film Speak No Evil is now in theaters, and, as you've probably heard, this new version makes some signifiant changes to the ending of the relentlessly bleak original.

Spoilers follow.

Both movies have the same premise and play out very similarly up to a point: A family of three befriend a seemingly gregarious doctor and his wife and son while on vacation and agree to go and stay with them for the weekend. After some increasingly strange behaviour, the friendly facade begins to slip, and it soon becomes clear that something is very wrong in the household.

It ultimately comes to light that the "doctor" and his wife are deranged serial killers who rob and murder couples with children, before rendering the kid mute and forcing them to pretend to be their son or daughter to gain an advantage when enticing new victims.

It’s Friday the 13th and you know what means: a bunch of new horror movies have been unleashed today to make us forget that it’s been 15 Years since we last saw Jason Voorhees.

Here’s all the new horror that released Friday, September 13, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

First up, In a Violent Nature is the next best thing to a new Friday the 13th movie, a unique slasher told from the perspective of the Jason-like killer. It’s now streaming on Shudder.

In the film, “When a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower in the woods that entombs the rotting corpse of Johnny, a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 60-year old crime, his body is resurrected and becomes hellbent on retrieving it. The undead golem hones in on the group of vacationing teens responsible for the...

If you’ve been to the movies at any point this past summer, chances are you’ve encountered what’s possibly the most spoiler-heavy coming attractions preview of all time. Speak No Evil, the American remake of Danish filmmaker Christian Tafdrup’s brilliantly bleak 2022 film, candidly revealed major plot points via its own trailer,...

Speak No Evil, directed by James Watkin, is a psychological thriller where a family goes on a vacation to the countryside, though little do they know that it was going to turn into the biggest nightmare of their lives. Speak No Evil is a remake of the 2022 film of the same name, directed by Christian Tafdrup. Not that there are many similarities pertaining to the story, but the first half of Speak No Evil reminds me of Jordan Peele’s Get Out, probably because of the treatment of the film. The anticipation of something adverse happening when everything seems right on the face of it is a technique used by filmmakers to create suspense since time immemorial. Though the audience is also unaware of what could happen here, the filmmaker is able to create a sense of impending doom. While watching the film, I heard people saying that the first...

Enjoyment, so to speak, of Christian Tafdrup’s bleak 2022 Danish horror movie Speak No Evil, a slow simmering cautionary tale of extreme passivity and politeness, is contingent on how much its “Because you let me” punchline gets under your skin. The grim pessimism and pervading discomfort culminated in a frustrating but fittingly passive conclusion, making for a divisive effort. The type of which feels well suited to writer/director James Watkins and his style of grim horror.

Watkins, along with a game cast, stays faithful to the source material, for the most part, in this Americanized remake but opts for a much livelier third act that dials up the intensity.

Like the original, two families hit it off while on a stunning European vacation in Blumhouse’s Speak No Evil. Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy), along with daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler), connect with free-spirited and boisterous...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Speak No Evil (2024).

The 2024 horror movie Speak No Evil received excellent reviews and Rotten Tomato scores that exceed the original, showing that the newer version isnt just an unnecessary remake. The streaming platform Shudder has gained a reputation for releasing some of the best, worst, and most silly horror movies including the 2022 Danish horror movie Speak No Evil, which falls into the first category. Directed by Christian Tafdrup, the film follows a Danish family who visits a Dutch family, expecting a lovely weekend. They soon discover disturbing secrets that lead to Speak No Evils gripping ending.

Considering the movie only came out a year before the announcement, audiences and critics were skeptical in 2023 when news confirmed that Blumhouse planned to remake the movie. Hollywood tends to remake great international films, losing what made the original special. Prime examples of this include Oldboy (2013), Fathers Day (1997), and Wickerman (2006). However,...

Ten years ago, Scoot McNairy’s first collaboration with Mackenzie Davis on Halt and Catch Fire had just completed its first season on AMC, and the “little drama that could” gradually became both a critical darling and cult hit. Set in the personal computing and internet revolutions of the ‘80s and ‘90s, McNairy’s Gordon Clark and Davis’ Cameron Howe played computer geniuses who had great respect for each other’s intellects, and together with their impermanent romantic and business partners of Kerry Bishé’s Donna Clark and Lee Pace’s Joe MacMillan, the quartet’s interpersonal relationships continuously evolved amid the ever-changing landscape of the industry they helped shape.

McNairy and Davis’ characters often had a very brother-and-sister dynamic, so the Halt fan base was rocked when James Watkin’s Speak No Evil dropped its first trailer last April, unveiling McNairy and Davis’ married couple of Ben and Louise Dalton.

Hurricane Francine in Louisiana won’t scare off Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as the Tim Burton directed Warner Bros. sequel is expected to ease -60% in its second weekend making it the second best second frame for September with around $44M. If that projection holds, it will rank behind New Line’s record September second weekend for It ($60.1M).

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice notched the second-best Tuesday in September behind 2017’s It’s $11.4M with $9M and a running $126.1M domestic cume. For anyone keeping track of Burton’s highest grossing movies stateside, it’s Alice in Wonderland ($334.1M) then Batman ($251M). Currently, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is pacing 12% behind It over five days, that pic ending its initial run at $327.4M (lifetime is $328.8M).

Meanwhile, Hurricane Francine weakened to a tropical storm last night, per CNN, and pushed into the Louisiana inland. We heard there were about 20 theaters that shuttered yesterday from the New Orleans suburbs to Baton Rouge.

A decade ago, Mackenzie Davis’ breakout role as Cameron Howe on AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire had just finished airing as part of the series’ well received but criminally underseen first season. Fortunately for Halt, the network’s flagship shows, Mad Men and Breaking Bad, had mostly concluded their decorated runs at that point, and AMC, in the interest of creating new critical darlings, decided to invest further in Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers’ under-viewed drama series, something that’s a rarity in this day and age of increasingly impatient networks, studios and streamers.

Davis played a gifted young computer programmer who was at the forefront of the personal computing and internet revolutions in the ’80s and ’90s, and throughout the rest of the series, she had an off-and-on romantic relationship with Lee Pace’s visionary entrepreneur, Joe MacMillan. Alongside their initially married friends and intermittent business partners,...

James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi in ‘Speak No Evil’ (Photo © 2024 Universal Studios)

As the modern horror powerhouse that it is, Blumhouse has Universal money behind it. Because of this fact and the brand’s proven track record, they are able to seemingly release movies left and right. And their latest release is Speak No Evil.

Speak No Evil is about an American couple living in London named Ben and Louise (Argo’s Scoot McNairy and Tully’s Mackenzie Davis) who, while vacationing in Italy with their daughter, Agnes (Alix West Lefler from Riverdale), meet another British couple named Paddy and Ciara (Split’s James McAvoy and The Nightingale’s Aisling Franciosi) who are there with their son, Ant (Dan Hough from Hollyoaks). The couples hit it off, and the charming Paddy invites Ben and Louise to come and spend a weekend with his family on their farm. Initially reluctant, they wind up accepting the invitation,...

Christian Tafdrup’s Speak No Evil could’ve easily been just another “for the love of God stay home and don’t go on adventures” thriller. But where’s the fun in that? Tafdrup commanded frustration with this majorly depressing parable that unfolded with the story of a couple making some terrible choices. And while you’re advised against taking things too literally in Speak No Evil, you can’t help but recognize the formidable warning and lesson hiding themselves under all that ridiculousness. Speak No Evils ending is bleak enough for you to want to distract yourself with the pragmatic inconsistencies. So before I dissect it, here’s hoping that you’ve had enough time to sit with it and come to terms with it and that you’re open to seeing the film the way it intends for you to see it.

Spoiler Alert

What Happens in the film?...

Ben and Louise couldn’t resist the invitation to spend a weekend in the English countryside with Paddy and Ciara, the affable pair they met on holiday in Italy. The American couple knew very little about their hosts, other than enjoyable conversations shared over dinners at the resort, but felt their children connected well. When the opportunity for the families to bond further arose, it seemed rude to refuse.

Louise remained wary of the spontaneous get-together, having sensed an eagerness in Paddy that gave her pause. But swept up in his charm and wit, with promises their young daughter and son might find a friend in each other, Ben convinced her of the experience’s benefits. They didn’t yet realize this stay at the remote farmhouse would stir more unease than comfort within its old walls.

This review examines both the 2022 Danish film Speak No Evil, directed by Christian Tafdrup,...

James McAvoy is a versatile actor who is known for his compelling performances across various genres. He delivered yet another standout role in the psychological horror thriller titled, Speak No Evil.

James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi in Speak No Evil | Credits: Universal Pictures

The Christian Tafdrup directorial has received critical acclaim for its intense storytelling and McAvoy’s gripping portrayal. While the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score speaks volumes about its quality, it’s McAvoy’s performance that truly shines. But if you’re still not convinced, the film’s score will surely nudge you enough to watch it.

Speak No Evil’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Speak No Evil | Credits: Universal Pictures

Speak No Evil has garnered an impressive 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the score is a testament to its high praise from critics. It reflects the film’s success in delivering a chilling and thought-provoking experience, and here’s...

A grimly amusing skewering of Scandi politesse with a knife-in-the-gut finale in the vein of Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, Christian Tafdrup’s 2022 shocker Speak No Evil grew in reputation through word of mouth for its slow-burning displeasures and uncompromising cruelty. Those are features that are largely absent from James Watkins’s remake, a hollow attempt to turn a provocative showpiece into a crowd-pleaser that makes you wonder if the filmmakers are actively disdainful of the original.

Uptight Americans Ben and Louise Dalton (Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis) are vacationing in Italy with their young daughter, Agnes (Alix West Lefler), when they cross paths with Ciara and Paddy (Aisling Franciosi and James McAvoy), another couple on holiday with their developmentally challenged son, Ant (Dan Hough). The parents strike up a fast friendship, so it comes as no surprise that, upon returning to their home in London, Ben and Louise...

I’ve long appreciated the work of filmmaker James Watkins, and his latest is no exception. Speak No Evil – a remake of the excellent Denmark thriller by the same name (read our review of the Danish film Here) – takes the ordinary and makes it horrific. In it, Ben and Louise (Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis) are a couple on vacation. While there, they run into the charismatic couple Paddy and Clara (James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi). The two families get along well. So much so, Paddy insists they come and spend time with them at home that summer. They take them up on that offer. And no, they shouldn’t have. It’s a taught and scary thriller with exceptional performances from all involved. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down for interviews with Watkins, McAvoy, Davis, and McNairy.

First, James McAvoy (who reteamed with his Split and Glass...