Speak No Evil, directed by James Watkins, is a film that expertly builds tension through subtle, creeping unease rather than cheap scares. At its core, it’s a psychological thriller that lulls you into a false sense of normalcy, only to slowly unravel that facade, piece by piece. The movie’s strength lies in its ability to make you feel uncomfortable long before things take a darker turn, and it’s driven by outstanding performances from James McAvoy (Split, My Son) and Aisling Franciosi (The Fall, The Nightingale), who play a seemingly charming couple with a deeply sinister edge.
At first, McAvoy and Franciosi’s characters come across as a down-to-earth, fun-loving couple—the kind of people you’d enjoy grabbing a drink with. But even early on, there are subtle red flags that hint at something darker beneath the surface. They do things that make you uneasy, but they always manage to brush it off as a joke or an innocent misunderstanding, leaving the other characters—and the audience—second-guessing whether there’s really something wrong.
The brilliance of the film is that their villainy doesn’t come as a sudden, shocking twist. Instead, Watkins slowly peels back the layers, making their descent into madness feel inevitable. You’re given these disturbing glimpses of what lies beneath, long before the characters themselves catch on. Little offhand comments, jokes that cut a little too close to the bone, and increasingly unsettling behavior—all played off with a grin and a laugh—add up to a building sense of dread. It’s the kind of slow burn that keeps you on edge, knowing something bad is coming, but unsure of exactly when the mask will fully drop.
McAvoy is absolutely in his element here, playing a man who can flip between charming and unhinged with disturbing ease. His chemistry with Franciosi is key—they play off each other so naturally, making their fun-loving exterior believable while letting the audience sense that something much more dangerous is lurking underneath. They aren’t the kind of villains that shock you with a sudden reveal; they get under your skin slowly, making their true nature all the more unsettling.
Meanwhile, Mackenzie Davis (Terminator: Dark Fate, Blade Runner 2049) and Scoot McNairy (Argo, Killing Them Softly) portray the unsuspecting couple caught in this slow-burn nightmare. Their polite discomfort builds in tandem with the audience’s, as they try to ignore their gut feelings and adhere to social norms, even as the tension thickens. Watching them overlook one red flag after another in an attempt to be courteous is both maddening and relatable—you can’t help but root for them, even as you wish they’d wake up to the danger sooner.
By the time the final act kicks in, the tension is nearly unbearable, and the characters’ hesitation and poor decisions only heighten your frustration. You’ll be shouting at the screen as they do all the wrong things, but somehow, it doesn’t diminish the entertainment value. The movie balances these horror clichés with enough humor and well-crafted suspense to keep you invested, even as you want to grab the characters and shake them.
In the end, Speak No Evil is a masterclass in building dread. The slow reveal of McAvoy and Franciosi’s villainous sides is as gripping as it is unnerving, and their dynamic keeps you hooked from start to finish. Even with its familiar horror tropes, the film’s unique blend of tension, dark humor, and chilling performances make it a standout thriller that will leave you squirming in your seat.
🍿🍿🍿🍿/🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Review by: Whitney Muehlberger