Speak No Evil attempts to explore suspense with psychological horror tones, but even though it’s a remake of a Danish film, it feels overly attached to the formula of Straw Dogs (1971), both in its escalation of violence and in its use of the famous "Chekhov's guns." However, while Straw Dogs offered a solid narrative construction and steadily building tension, Speak No Evil stumbles in its development.
The main issue lies in its failed attempt to complete the monomyth structure, leaving unresolved plotlines that frustrate the viewer. What exactly did Ant’s cryptic message say? And even more puzzling, what happens to the man hired as a babysitter for the kids? Sadly, the answer is that this character exists merely to meet inclusion standards, appearing with only two lines of dialogue that add nothing to the plot. Still, the film has good intentions, but inconsistent execution keeps it from reaching excellence, even though the plot itself is acceptable overall. On the other hand, the moments of humor work quite well and help to darken the antagonist’s psychological profile. However, when the antagonist is unmasked during the climax, Paddy’s idiosyncrasies—so effective in unsettling the audience—suddenly vanish. Fortunately, this evolution works; it’s necessary and doesn’t disrupt the film’s pacing, although it may not have been the best choice. Luckily, the tension steadily builds in a homogeneous way, and despite its predictability, it manages to grip the audience perfectly.
Finally, while some shots are magnificent, others fall flat due to unnecessary blurring, like the scene when the two children enter the underground room. What’s the point of blurring the background in a semi-subjective shot?
In conclusion, Speak No Evil is a movie that works well for watching with friends or as a recommendation. However, for seasoned cinephiles, it may come across as a vague and unremarkable option compared to others.
Review by AitorBlockedParent2024-10-13T22:44:54Z
Speak No Evil attempts to explore suspense with psychological horror tones, but even though it’s a remake of a Danish film, it feels overly attached to the formula of Straw Dogs (1971), both in its escalation of violence and in its use of the famous "Chekhov's guns." However, while Straw Dogs offered a solid narrative construction and steadily building tension, Speak No Evil stumbles in its development.
The main issue lies in its failed attempt to complete the monomyth structure, leaving unresolved plotlines that frustrate the viewer. What exactly did Ant’s cryptic message say? And even more puzzling, what happens to the man hired as a babysitter for the kids? Sadly, the answer is that this character exists merely to meet inclusion standards, appearing with only two lines of dialogue that add nothing to the plot. Still, the film has good intentions, but inconsistent execution keeps it from reaching excellence, even though the plot itself is acceptable overall. On the other hand, the moments of humor work quite well and help to darken the antagonist’s psychological profile. However, when the antagonist is unmasked during the climax, Paddy’s idiosyncrasies—so effective in unsettling the audience—suddenly vanish. Fortunately, this evolution works; it’s necessary and doesn’t disrupt the film’s pacing, although it may not have been the best choice. Luckily, the tension steadily builds in a homogeneous way, and despite its predictability, it manages to grip the audience perfectly.
Finally, while some shots are magnificent, others fall flat due to unnecessary blurring, like the scene when the two children enter the underground room. What’s the point of blurring the background in a semi-subjective shot?
In conclusion, Speak No Evil is a movie that works well for watching with friends or as a recommendation. However, for seasoned cinephiles, it may come across as a vague and unremarkable option compared to others.