Speak No Evil

During what is, indeed, a long overdue vacation, American couple Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben (Scoot McNairy) Dalton, along with their daughter Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler), are quietly hanging out at the pool of the hotel they’re staying at when the very friendly, and slightly charismatic, Paddy (James McAvoy), his wife Ciara and their son Ant, strike up a conversation with the Daltons (well maybe not Ant, more on that later).

Upon leaving the pool, Agnes begins to have an anxiety attack when her stuffed bunny goes missing. Her parents try to calm her down to no avail. And who comes in on a slick Vespa scooter to save the day? Why it’s Paddy and Ciara! “I found him as I was walking out of the hotel,” claims Paddy.

Agnes, now settled, is offered the opportunity by Paddy to ride on his Vespa. “Can I mom and dad?” she pleads. Hesitantly the parents tell her its okay. “He’s just being kind,” Louise and Ben tell themselves. Before you know it Louise, Ben and Agnes are invited by Paddy and Ciara to join them for dinner at a local restaurant.

After their vacation, the Dalton family returns to their London home, having relocated from the United States due to Dalton’s job. A week goes by and they receive a postcard from Paddy and Ciara, “Why doesn’t your family come out to our farmhouse in England? It would just be for a few days.” Given the marital issues that plague Louise and Ben, they decide that perhaps a few days in the countryside might be good for the whole family.

Soon thereafter, the Dalton family arrives and are greeted by Paddy, Ciara and a very quiet Ant. “What’s wrong with Ant?” Agnes asks. “It’s quite sad. He was born without a tongue.”

As the Dalton family continues to get settled in at the farmhouse they begin to notice Paddy’s passive-aggressive behaviors among some very uncomfortable remarks and actions.

But there’s an evil, an unspeakable evil (see what I did there) that overshadows this quaint farmhouse and the Dalton family are about to have a front-row seat to the evil that lurks around Paddy and his family.

Boy oh boy, “Speak No Evil.” “Yikes,” was my first impression walking out of the film and even today I still say, “Yikes.”

I’m not sure how, in the world, anyone thought this kind of movie was a good idea. First off, the violence on display is simply unnerving. I felt myself frozen in my seat in absolute shock and disgust at the on screen violence, with several moments occurring to children by adults. You read that correctly, violence is occurring TO children on screen (abuse, both verbal and physical). I don’t care how old the characters are, whether they are adults or children, abuse should never be implied or shown—and with “Speak No Evil” it’s both.

Additionally, the language is simply appalling. I’m not simply talking about everyday curse words (f-bomb and the like), I’m talking about some words that shouldn’t be in anyone’s dictionary.

To the film’s credit (I always try to find something), James McAvoy puts on a creepy, but stellar performance. The audience bears witness to Paddy’s delicate mental state, as he goes from this happy, charming individual to a unhinged, aggressive being. James McAvoy is no stranger to this type of film. In most recent years, McAvoy has generally been typecast as unhinged or disturbed characters. These films include “It: Chapter 2,” “Split,” “Glass” and now “Speak No Evil.”

The other actress that really impressed me in this film is the girl who plays Agnes. Alix puts on such a subtle and nuanced performance as someone who is caught in the middle of everything and really only cares about protecting the young boy, Ant.

Lastly, the overall tone of the film is incredibly unsettling and nerve-wracking, but as I watched I was, admittedly, okay with that. This film really presents itself as a suspense/thriller. From the opening scenes you watch as this film transitions from light to dark, from happy to angry. You find yourself watching and waiting and wondering who’s gonna break, who’s going to show their real side; the tension just builds and builds before it breaks and the strong cinematography helps communicate this.

As a side note, it is somewhat interesting, but also rather sickening, as to where the concept of the film came from. Christian Spotlight notes the following:

“The story is inspired by the experiences of Christian Tafdrup, director of the original “Danish Speak No Evil,” who had befriended a Dutch couple while on holiday in Tuscany with his wife. Although the Dutch were a bit socially awkward, both couples got along very well, and after returning home, Tafdrup received an invitation from the Dutch family to come over to the Netherlands.”

Here’s the sick part…

His story for the movie came about when he unleashed his darkest fantasies on what could have happened, had he accepted (while maintaining that the original Dutch couple had never given off any bad vibes).

Content of Concern

VIOLENCE: Note: This is only a small amount of the violence on display. A little boy is forced to “sink or swim” (as his dad says) as he struggles to stay afloat in a pool. We witness bruises, marks, and cuts on a young boy that imply he is abused. In fact, in another sequence, a father is seen throwing a medium sized object at his son because he is having trouble keeping the beat to a dance that he and his friend came up with. A young boy, who is mute, tries to show someone that his parents cut out his tongue. A girl pokes herself with a sharp plant on purpose with blood dripping down her legs, faking about getting her period (this is in an effort to get her mothers attention).

A father throws his son into the lake and the boy nearly drowns. A man is sliced with a boxcutter. People are shot with a shotgun. A child is threatened with being thrown into a woodchipper. A household cleaner is sprayed in someone’s eyes. Someone is fatally bludgeoned in the back of the head with a hammer. An adult female character is hit in the back of the head while on the roof and falls to her death (the audience actually witnesses her body hit the ground with blood coming out of her head). A man falls off a roof, landing on his feet, but breaking a foot in the process. A child is held at gunpoint by a male character. A boy severely and repeatedly bludgeons an adult to death. Pictures of deceased families are shown in a photo album.

VULGARITY: F**k (11), F**king (15), F**ker (1), F**ked (1), F**k off (1), F**k up (1), Sh*t (4), Bull-Sh*t (1), the C-word (C*nt) (2), D*ck, Sh*thead, A**-hole (1), “Poo,” “Cheeky b*stard,” and “S*d” (an abbreviation of Sodomite or Sodomize used in British slang for a Gay or someone who is simply annoying. Other vulgar language includes “Someone being kicked in the b*lls” and comments about the function of toilet paper.

PROFANITY: Jesus’ name is misused three times (one as Chr*st), OMG (2), “G*d-dam*it,” H*ll (2) and “Jeez”

SEXUAL CONTENT/DIALOG: A husband and wife are seen dancing in their underwear and talk about different ways they role play in the bedroom, as well as how often the two have sex. The term “sexual organ” is used. A wife gives her husband a “bl*w j*b” under a restaurant table in front of guests. A husband confronts his wife about a past affair she had, via sexting, with someone they both knew. A young girl is seen in a bed with Paddy and Ciara. When confronted by the girl’s parents, Ciara states that the girl was frightened and woke up in the middle of the night so she let her stay in their room (this is all a lie). A violent man tells a young girl that he is going to make her his next wife.

NUDITY: As a family and a guest family go to a cliff to go cliff diving, a woman suggests that, since they don’t have any swimsuits to wear, they should strip down to their “nickers” and the female characters, including a young girl (which absolutely made me sick to my stomach), eventually do so. We see them both in nothing but bras and panties. The men and the young boy also go down to their undergarments, both shirtless as well. Women are seen in revealing bikinis at a hotel pool. Someone is seen wearing a midriff throughout the entire film.

DRUGS: Two men are seen smoking cigarettes (or perhaps weed, I couldn’t tell). A man threatens to drug a kid. A man is jabbed with a syringe by a young child.

ALCOHOL: People are seen drinking alcohol in a few scenes

WOKESIM: There is a moderate amount of woke (extremely-liberal leaning) material in the film. There are heated discussions regarding gun rights, the environment, how veganism is something that is better for the ecosystem and the planet, etc. A vegetarian is forced by someone to eat meat. Characters discuss how a goose was slaughtered and cooked and about how it was the prize goose.

Morals/Themes

Evil seems to be a prevalent theme in “Speak No Evil” (no duh right?). In fact, there seems to be almost no semblance of goodness or kindness (apart from Agnes) in the entire film.

The very essence of evil stems from sin and sin leads to death, both physical and eternal. When we accept Christ as our Lord and savior, He ultimately saves us from all evil. We no longer have to fear evil or the Devil, no matter what the Devil may throw at us. Likewise, we are called to cast evil desires and actions out of our lives and live a life for the Lord.

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. —Proverbs 4:14-15

Be not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. —Proverbs 3:7

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. —1 Peter 3:9

Final Thoughts

I have never seen the original Danish version of “Speak No Evil.” Apparently it came out two years ago and there was even more violence towards children in the original. For example, in the original a second child is shown having their tongue cut off by a parent. One movie critic commented,

“It’s truly one of the darkest, meanest, and most devastating horror films out there.” —Emma Kiely, Collider

I’m honestly appalled by this film. Perhaps it was simply the popcorn and soda I had, but I felt severely nauseated as I sat through the screening.

“Speak No Evil” is simply an very unsettling film. If the violence isn’t enough to deter someone from seeing it (no matter the situations surrounding said violence), then perhaps the large amount of sexual content, nudity and incredibly vulgar language will deter you from seeing this film.

While “Speak No Evil” has some good cinematography and performances, it has more going against it. For this and all the above reasons, I cannot in good conscience recommended “Speak No Evil” to Christian audiences of any age.

Remember what it says in the book of Psalms…

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” —Psalm 23:4

• Violence: Very Heavy
• Vulgar/Crude language: Very Heavy
• Sex: Moderately Heavy
• Profane language: Moderate
• Nudity: Moderate
• Wokeism: Moderate
• Drugs/Alcohol: Mild
• Occult: None

“…Abhor what is evil.
Cling to what is good.” —Romans 12:9 NKJV excerpt

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