Although 2024's Speak No Evil stars James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis, serving as a direct remake of the 2022 Danish movie of the same name. It tells the story of an American couple who become friends with a British family while on vacation. Later, they decide to spend a week at the British family's remote house in the country, and they soon discover the couple's true nature.
2024's Speak No Evil is unique because it's a remake that is coming only two years after the original was released. Typically, one would expect a remake to happen many years after the original, like how 2017's It came 27 years after the first movie adaptation. However, Speak No Evil wasted no time in being developed and released, leaving audiences to compare and contrast the 2022 version and the 2024 version. When doing this, one aspect stands out the most: the ending. How 2024's Speak No Evil ends is vastly different from how the 2022 version ended.
Speak No Evil's Original Ending Was Way Darker
How 2024's Speak No Evil Ended
The original Danish Speak No Evil concluded on an incredibly dark note. The differences begin when the British couple, now Dutch in the 2022 version, beat their son to death. This allows the father of the American family, now Danish, to realize that his new friends are murderers who cut out their "son's" tongue. Next, the Dutch couple target Agnes, forcing her parents to watch as they cut out her tongue, making her their new daughter. The film reaches its sinister conclusion when the Danish couple are driven to a ditch and stoned to death by their hosts.
The last third of the movie sees the Americans fighting for their lives inside the house, and eventually killing their sadistic hosts, before driving away to safety.
The original ending has no sign of hope. This is what makes it vastly different from 2024's Speak No Evil. In the remake, Paddy and Ciara begin their plot to kill Louise and Ben and take Agnes as their own, but they don't succeed. Louise manages to injure Paddy and escape with her family and Ant in tow. The last third of the movie sees the Americans fighting for their lives inside the house, and eventually killing their sadistic hosts, before driving away to safety. This leaves audiences with a happy ending that is far different than the Danish version.
Speak No Evil's Remake Avoided Replacing The Original
How 2024's Speak No Evil Distinguished Itself
Speak No Evil's changed ending made the movie better. Though some viewers may have been disappointed by the happier ending, it allowed 2024's Speak No Evil to stand apart from its predecessor. Despite sharing a story, 2022's Speak No Evil and 2024's Speak No Evil move in different directions and focus on different themes. Where the original's ending warns viewers about the dangers of being too polite, the new movie centers more on the intuitions of a mother and her dedication to fighting tooth and nail for her family.
Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy, who play Louise and Ben in Speak No Evil, previously worked together on the TV show, Halt and Catch Fire.
2024's Speak No Evil distinguished itself in other ways too. The movie gave more agency to its victims than the original did. In the 2022 version, Patrick and Karin are essentially running the show from day one and are able to carry out their crimes to the fullest extent. Meanwhile, the remake not only allows the Americans to fight back but also gives Ant a chance to fight for his life as well. He stood out as one of the most interesting characters in the film. Thus, the remake shines a light on its victims that the original didn't.
Speak No Evil Being A Direct Remake Would Have Been Unnecessary
Speak No Evil's Success Explained
Ultimately, 2024's Speak No Evil made the right choice in changing its ending, along with other details from the original story. It not only allowed the new movie to stand out from the original but also made its existence make more sense. If 2024's Speak No Evil had simply stuck to the original in every way, there would have been no reason to make it. A remake needs to bring a new vision and a new execution. Luckily, the Speak No Evil remake was able to do this, and it seems to have succeeded.
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2024's Speak No Evil has done quite well upon its release. The movie has a Certified Fresh 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and has grossed $25 million so far, which is impressive for a small horror film. Compared to 2022's Speak No Evil, which earned a very similar 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, the remake has lived up to its predecessor. Speak No Evil proved that remakes can work, even just two years after the original came out.
Speak No Evil
- Release Date
- September 13, 2024
- Runtime
- 110 Minutes
- Director
- James Watkins
Cast
James McAvoy
Mackenzie Davis
WHERE TO WATCH
Speak No Evil is a 2024 horror-thriller film by writer-director James Watkins. A remake of the 2022 movie Speak No Evil follows a family who head to the country for a much-needed vacation - but the situation quickly deteriorates, thrusting them into a horrific nightmare.
- Writers
- James Watkins
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