Have you ever audibly screamed in a movie theater? Well after watching “Speak No Evil,” a psychological horror movie directed by James Watkins, I can confidently say I have. This movie is part of the Blumhouse Horror Movie Collection, including popular movies like “Insidious,” “Truth or Dare,” and “The First Purge.”
The movie depicts an American couple, Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and Ben (Scoot McNairy), and their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler), who befriend a Danish couple and their son on a trip to Italy. James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi star as Paddy and Ciara, the Danish couple, with Dan Hough playing their son Ant, who was born with no tongue. Soon after their return back home, the Dutch family invites them to their remote house for the weekend, where suspicious events continue to happen to the family: Louise is forced to eat meat as a vegetarian, the parents are very strict and rude to Ant, and the American family even finds their daughter asleep in the other couple’s bed one night. As more and more strange events occur, a major plot twist appears, revealing the real intentions of the Dutch family.
While I was definitely attempting to get myself into the Halloween mood, “Speak No Evil” spooked me in a different way than most horror movies; each scene was very realistic, demonstrating that a similar story could be occurring somewhere in the world today. The fantasy horror movies involving ghosts and demons scare me in the moment then escape my mind, but the psychological movies that have a possibility of truly existing are what leave the biggest impact. Each interaction between the families displayed immense tension like no other, forcing me to sit at the edge of my chair to see what would later happen.
One of my favorite aspects of “Speak No Evil” is the presence of the suspenseful and ominous music. As the moment would build-up, the intensifying, dissonant music evoked fear and terror inside of me, leading me to hold onto and squirm in my seat in desperation of the moment that came next. When there was a moment of silence directly after the escalated scene, I knew something bad would happen, leading me to gasp or jump even harder when the moment finally occurred.
Watching this movie at the theaters was the perfect move; with the great acoustics and giant screen, I was fully immersed in the spine-chilling experience. As an avid horror movie fan, I completely recommend this movie to others who are seeking an adrenaline-filled film experience. But, as I do care about the emotional wellbeing of Blake members, I would say make sure you have what it takes and don’t be embarrassed to shriek out loud.
