Speak No Evil: a “brilliantly constructed” psychological thriller

The title may not be particularly promising, but Speak No Evil – a remake of an acclaimed Dutch-Danish film – “emerges as a brilliantly constructed psychological thriller that builds on one of James McAvoy’s best performances in years,” said Matthew Bond in The Mail on Sunday. “You really can’t take your eyes off it.”

He plays Paddy, a British alpha male who is on holiday in Italy with his partner Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and son (Dan Hough) when they meet a wealthy American couple, Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise (Mackenzie Davis), and their daughter (Alix West Lefler). The two families hit it off – “sort of” – and when Paddy invites the Americans to visit them at their home in the west country, they “reluctantly accept” – a decision they will later regret. Director and co-writer James Watkins “does a brilliant job of ratcheting up the tension and growing threat”, and although the final half hour is a little predictable, this is “one of the best-made thrillers you’ll see all year”.