The 2024 horror remake Speak No Evil, starring James McAvoy, is now streaming on Netflix, and fans are calling it 'shockingly good' — some even preferring it to the original.
McAvoy's Career and the Film's Premise
James McAvoy, 47, rose to fame as Steve McBride in Channel 4's Shameless before Hollywood roles in The Chronicles of Narnia, X-Men, Split, and His Dark Materials. In Speak No Evil, he plays Paddy, a British man who invites an American family to his remote farmhouse, where a seemingly friendly visit turns into a nightmare. The film also stars Aisling Franciosi as Paddy's wife and Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy as the American couple.
Critical and Audience Reception
With a budget of $15 million, Speak No Evil grossed $77 million worldwide and holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus reads: 'Harnessing sick suspense from the glimmer in James McAvoy's eye, Speak No Evil is the remake that hushes up concerns of 'been there, done that.''
Fans on Reddit have praised the film. User @PossibilityFine5988 said: 'Shockingly good for a movie a lot thought was destined to be awful… James McAvoy is a star plain and simple this does not work without him.' @Singer211 added: 'This was significantly better than the marketing made it seem. McAvoy is scarily good in this. I actually preferred the third act of this film over the original.'
Why It Stands Out
Directed by James Watkins (The Woman in Black), the film is a remake of the 2022 Danish-Dutch festival hit. McAvoy's performance, particularly his facial expressions, maintains a tense atmosphere. One distressing scene involves Paddy forcing the children to repeatedly sing 'Cotton Eye Joe.' User @punflower described it as 'a textbook perfect thriller' that scratches an itch for non-paranormal survival horror.
