Speak No Evil
Blumhouse (2024)
I've watched a lot of horror movies in my life, but there haven't been too many that have scared me in my adult life. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy them, but they just don't give me the chills the way that they did when I was a kid. I don't think that I truly recognized that fact until I saw Speak No Evil, which is the most legitimately terrifying movie I have ever seen.
The vast majority of villains in horror cinema are unrealistic. Some have super strength, or are impervious to pain, or come back from the dead without explanation. Others have seemingly infinite intelligence or wealth that allow them to carry out their plans. In more recent years, the villains commit acts of violence that are so gory and over-the-top that it comes across more as dark comedy than frightening. Then there's the parade of vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other supernatural creatures that are a lot of fun to watch, but they're not something that most adults find themselves afraid of encountering in their daily lives. I find all of these characters immensely enjoyable and their movies are among my all time favorites, but they don't scare me... not really.
James McAvoy's performance as Paddy is on a different level. He's more frightening than Michael Myers and more charismatic than Freddy Krueger because he is the real deal. I have known people like this. They're not guilty of the same acts as Paddy to the best of my knowledge, but they weren't good people and they have a personality that was just a few jumps from evolving into this monster like this.
Speak No Evil is a modern classic. It takes its time with a creepy vibe that builds slowly throughout the film, with Paddy and Ciara saying or doing something unsettling, then quickly pulling it back in a way that makes the audience question if these are just two quirky folks from the country or if there is something more sinister going on. In other words, it gives you the same feelings that the protagonists are having, and it does so brilliantly.
This is a movie that I'd recommend to anyone who can appreciate an excellent suspense film. Don't wait for this to hit the streaming platforms. This is a movie that deserves to be seen on the big screen by as many people as possible.
UPDATE 9/17/2024: I just learned that this is a remake of a Danish film of the same name that was released two years ago. It's available to stream on Shudder, so it's getting added to the top of my watch list.
