COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - "SPEAK NO EVIL" (UNIVERSAL BLU-RAY)
Remakes get a bad rap, and not always for the right reasons. While there is certainly a long list of remakes that can’t measure up to their originals, there is also a case to be made for movies getting the remake treatment that was possibly too early or marred with such major production issues that the result begs to give it another go. Americanized remakes of non-American films are often used as an example of remakes' excessiveness and needlessness; honestly, it’s hard to argue that point. The best remakes will take the spirit of the original and contort it in new ways so that it resonates with a modern audience, while not isolating fans of the original with too much fan service or a complete disregard of franchise history. If we’re being honest, it’s an impossible task to please old fans and generate new ones, but that doesn’t stop studios like Universal Pictures and Blumhouse from trying! Enter “Speak No Evil”, the American remake of the 2022 Danish horror film that has now arrived on Blu-Ray. Is this a remake worth watching or one worth shelving?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
After befriending a British couple with a mute son, Americans Ben and Louise 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.
HOW IS IT?
James Watkins’ “Speak No Evil” remake seemed to be doomed on arrival. The original Danish film from Christian Tafdrup was a perfectly poignant sendup of our inability to enforce the social contract even when it is being wildly abused, even if it didn’t resonate with as many North American audiences on account of the cultural differences in politeness. When the remake was announced, a collective sigh could be heard on the internet that once again, Hollywood was going to take something non-English and add layers of Americana on top of it robbing it of the unique voice of it’s culture of origin. Then the film came out, and reviews were mixed. Could this be a faithful adaptation that references the original while carving it’s own path? Yes and no. “Speak No Evil” succeeds in capturing the essence of the original largely driven by a strong lead performance from James McAvoy. Beyond that, the changes made to the films narrative will make North American viewers more comfortable, while the ending will likely alienate fans of the original.
The story beats are almost a carbon copy of the Danish film, albeit with some changes to nationality and culture. If you’re familiar with the original film you’re not going to see much of a difference between the 2022 version and this one until the third act. This approach does work in favor of the film, especially for those who haven’t seen the original. There is a reveal that happens in the trailer that many decried would be a spoiler, but is explained in a surprisingly believable way which alleviates some fears early on that Watkins’ film misses the point of the original. That feedback is valid, but not until a little later. What stands out the most across the film is McAvoy’s performance as Paddy, who is both charming and menacing in the same glance and his unhinged performance is reason alone to check this out even if you have reservations. McAvoy truly understands how subtly can be so scary as demonstrated by the slight flick of his eyebrow or slightly-cocked head when Louise (Mackenzie Dalton) goes toe-to-toe (proverbially) with Paddy in a battle of wits and social norms. The discomfort of these confrontations carries over from the original into this film and feel like the slight pressing of a fresh bruise as the playful awkwardness gives way to more diabolical underbelly. It’s all good until the third act, when things take a turn for the curious.
The ending of 2022’s “Speak No Evil” is controversial, especially for North Americans who have difficulty reconciling how things could get to the state they end up in and the 2024 version seeks to shift that narrative to something less abstract. That said, the changes to the narrative ultimately diminish the film's point and the goodwill it was building towards. To be fair, the original ending wouldn’t have worked here either, but to opt for something more action-oriented and less driven by situational tension is so American that they may as well have started playing the “Star Spangled Banner” as the backing soundtrack. More complexity is added that begs more questions we never get answers to, and the attempts to involve gender politics don’t feel fleshed out enough to mean anything substantial. There are also curious decisions around branding here that open up gaping plot holes, like the explicit use of a Tesla even though given the timeline and sequence of events there is no way it would still be able to run or have a charge to do so. These distinctly American changes don’t do the film any favors, but it does make for a more explosive ending in contrast to the original’s darkly anti-climatic one.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
“Speak No Evil” arrives on Blu-Ray in crisp 1080p with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. This is a 2024 production, so no need for restoration work here as everything looks amazing on HD tvs. It is curious that a 4K UHD wasn’t released or announced, similar to “Abigail” (read our review), but that could mean that there will be a double-dip on the horizon. The color palette is sunkissed greens, yellows, and hues of orange and brown that complement the English countryside setting. Images from this release are used throughout this review and below.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
“Speak No Evil” comes with a slew of audio selections including a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track in both French and Spanish, and a Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 track in English as well as Dolby 2.0 English track. The 7.1 sounds wonderful, even if it doesn’t get as much usage as it might on a more action-focused release. Still, there are clever uses of the backing and side speakers to create more immersion with the sound of cracking leaves or creaking floorboards in the couples eccentric country home. Subtitles are also available in English, Spanish, and French for those who may need them.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
Similar to other Universal and Blumhouse release, “Speak No Evil” has a handful of behind-the-scenes featurettes that each focus on a different aspect of the production. These vignettes are not that long, but segmented to touch on different themes both of the narrative and the film production itself. The three supplemental features included first touch on the role of the nuclear family and how the actors approached their roles as representatives of two very different families and parenting approaches. The second feature has writer/director James Watkins exploring the social themes and psychology that underpin so much of the discomfort and horror in “Speak No Evil”. This is easily the most interesting vignette as it touches on the original and the ways in which Watkins adapted the story to have a more American rather than European lens. All the special features included are listed below, and we do hope to go back and watch with the commentary track as it would be fascinating to hear more about how Watkins approached the changes to the third act.
NUCLEAR FAMILIES - Learn what drew James McAvoy and the rest of the cast to this film, discover what methods they used to embody their roles, and listen as they provide insight into the subtle intricacies surrounding the film’s two families.
A HORRIFYING CRESCENDO - Director James Watkins and cast members take you down a dark corridor of psychology as they discuss the navigation of social spaces, dwelling in discomfort, and the grounded horror elements which escalated the story to its formidable final act.
THE FARMHOUSE OF HORRORS - Immerse yourself in the farmhouse and learn how this location was reimagined into a place of nightmares as cast and crew walk you through the different production design and camera elements that added to the eeriness of the film.
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR JAMES WATKINS
LAST RITES
“Speak No Evil” isn’t the sacrilegious remake that many feared it would be, and offers up a terrifying performance from James McAvoy. Still, one can’t help but feel like the changes to the finale and the attempts to Americanize the narrative don’t help the film as much as harm it, but that shouldn’t mean you discount this film entirely especially if you aren’t familiar with the source material.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at Universal for providing a review copy for the crypt! Speak No Evil is available NOW and can be purchased via Amazon or other physical media retailers!
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