I’ve watched a string of horror movies in the theater lately including The Watchers, Longlegs, and Trap. I’ve enjoyed each of these to a certain extent. They were all in the category of good not great. Speak no Evil eclipses each of these movies without question. There was a lot that I liked about this movie, but what stands out at the very top of the list of what makes this movie a winner is the performance by James McAvoy. He is without a doubt on the short list of my favorite actors these days. He is fantastic in every movie I watch him, and this is no exception.
The movie has a really nice build to it. In this movie, the Daltons, an American family, meets a British couple while on vacation, and they invite the Daltons to their country home. There are immediate warning signs, but Paddy, played by McAvoy, and his wife explain them away. However, each incident gets more alarming. It culminates when their son, who can’t speak, warns the Daltons that this family is not what it seems. Then the craziness really starts, and the movie delivers on the nice buildup.
This is a well written movie that has great tensions but no real scares. In that sense, I’m not sure it’s really a horror movie. It’s more of a mystery thriller but regardless of how you classify the movie, it’s well worth the watch.
