James McAvoy stars in Speak No Evil (Image: UNIVERSAL)
Film fans looking for a gripping psychological thriller should try this one, currently streaming on Netflix. Speak No Evil came out in 2024 and is a remake of a 2022 Danish-Dutch movie of the same name. The film follows an American couple holidaying in Italy when they meet a British family, who invite them to stay at their remote English countryside farmhouse for the weekend.
However, what is supposed to be an idyllic mini-break in Devon soon descends into pure terror when the American family discovers their hosts have very sinister plans for them. Speak No Evil stars The Last King of Scotland actor and Hollywood A-lister James McAvoy as Brit Paddy and The Fall’s Aisling Franciosi as his wife Ciara.
James McAvoy has been praised for his sinister (Image: UNIVERSAL)
Meanwhile, Canadian star Mackenzie Davis from Halt and Catch Fire is Louise Dalton and True Detective’s Scoot McNairy is her husband Ben.
Speak No Evil has been praised by audiences on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes previously.
One person posted on IMDB: “The setup is masterful. Nothing big happens this entire act, yet I found myself smiling and intrigued. It’s a perfect example of how you can still create intrigue without needing action, or even worse, without having an opening scene that spoils what happens later in the movie.”
A second wrote: “James McAvoy-what a powerhouse. Honestly, just put this guy in every horror movie from now on, especially if he’s the villain.:
They added: “Speak No Evil is easily one of the best horror films of the year, in my opinion.”
A third wrote in their 9/10 review that Speak No Evil was “surprisingly great” and explained: “This movie had my anxiety level through the roof – but that’s exactly what it was supposed to do, right? James McAvoy is so incredibly good at making the audience feel uneasy throughout the film, slowly at first and then keeps raising the bar every time he’s on screen.”
Speak No Evil is a remake of the 2022 film (Image: UNIVERSAL)
Yet another said: “James McAvoy’s acting was phenomenal. The way he portrayed the character with such depth made it feel like he wasn’t even acting.”
They added: “The ending had me on edge, screaming at the screen. It’s been a while since a thriller or horror movie made me feel this way.”
A fifth person titled their 10/10 review: “Heart racing thriller” and elaborated: “I’m a McAvoy fan, he’s a vastly underated actor but I went into this wondering if the haters were going to be right.
“No they weren’t, not at all, this is a slow burn , tense, creepy film which builds to an explosive crescendo [sic].”
Someone else posted on Rotten Tomatoes: “Loved this movie. Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire movie. I don’t review movies, that explains itself.”
The film was shot in various locations including Groznjan in Croatia and in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, which stood in for Paddy and Ciara’s home in Devon.
Speak No Evil is streaming on Netflix now