American couple Ben and Louise, live in London, with their daughter Agnes. The meet British couple Paddy and Ciara, along with their son Ant in Italy on a short vacation. When they get home, they are invited to visit the Brit’s farmhouse, and they decide to go.
Soon after their arrival, things begin to seem out of the ordinary, and soon the true motives of why they were invited becomes clear.
Direction
Written and directed by James Watkins. He writes a terrific script with well established characters.
Cast/Characters
James McAvoy is the ‘lead’ given top billing – despite being almost secondary to both Ben and Louise. He plays both kind/friendly and later psychotic and antagonistic well.
Mackenzie Davis plays Louise, who we take a while to warm up to. She is written very well, and is played even better by the actress.
Scoot McNairy plays Ben. I like McNairy as an actor, and have come across him quite a few times. I think he does better in supporting roles like this one.
Aisling Franciosi plays Ciara, who is Paddy’s wife and co-conspirator. She does a great job, especially in the third act when the reveal has occurred.
Big ups go to Alis West Lefler, and Dan Hough as Agnes and Ant, who get plenty to do throughout the film, especially in the last few minutes of the film.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
The film begins where we are not aware of the ‘history’ of the lead couple; Louise almost cheating, and Ben’s work history.
We get snippets of their parenting methods – Agnes, who is almost 12 still has her security teddy, and Louise is almost a ‘helicopter’ parent – with a children should be seen not heard mentality, as well as a calming app to help her sleep.
This even extends into her marriage – and is why the British Paddy and Ciara become so enamored by them (and vice versa) – as they are outgoing and extroverted – to the introverted Americans.
From the initial beer by the pool, and then the helmet-less motorcycle ride around the city – Ben becomes almost jealous of Paddy, while Louise becomes wary of them.
As their time together continues, and before the reveal of ‘who’ this couple is – the boundaries are pushed further (the goose moment, the kids dance routine, and the way that Paddy and Ciara treat Ant).
One could argue that the pacing of the film is a little ‘off’ with the final arc really only occurring in the final 30 minutes of the film, but this could also be part of a better written thrill ride – where we think this is the moment the reveal occurs, and then it subsides, and then this continues several times before it finally does get revealed. We discuss this very point in our podcast.
There are some great moments of dialogue within the film too, where Paddy discusses the current state of the world – we all post the perfect life on the internet which causes no one to really talk to each other anymore.
He also makes a subtle reference to his ‘trophies’ as he only really buys things that last (like watches).
There are one or two things I thought were done well in the overall point to the film. Louise’s ‘almost’ affair, which leads her to ‘go along’ with Ben to the both the UK, and then this holiday, and then ultimately becoming the alpha during the showdown at the end.
Also Agnes’ ‘childlike’ behavior, which could have been written better in the ‘why’ – but this comes full circle by the end of the film. She grows throughout the film, especially as most of her scenes are with the non verbal Ant – who tries to warn her all the way through the movie – right up to the moment he shows her the full truth in the barn basement.
The final arc, there are mostly ups – like the inclusion of some slightly comical moments (the Molotov cocktail), and jumping to get to the ladder (IYKYK). But I hated the inclusion of the third adult, it added nothing but another obstacle to the end result and body count.
Score/Soundtrack
Overall
A quite well written film, with solid performances by the four adults, but especially the two kids (and their vs Paddy in the final arc).
A recommend from me.
3.5/5
Check out my podcast on this movie.
https://antandrymoviechats.podbean.com/e/speak-no-evil-2024/
Or through YouTube (please subscribe)
Ryan's Movie Reviews 