BJorn and Louise, husband and wife as well as parents of the little Agnes, are on vacation in Italy, in the Tuscan countryside, where they meet another couple with children, the Dutch Patrick and Karin, who are staying there with their son Abel, who has mutism. Between the two families, there is an instant connection and they decide to stay in touch even when they return to their respective countries.
AN INVITATION RECEIVED
Months later, Bjorn finds an invitation from their new friends in the mailbox, offering hospitality and asking them to visit for a few days of relaxation, reminiscent of the good times they had in Italy. Louise is hesitant to accept, but eventually decides to embark on a road trip to the isolated country home of Patrick and Karin. However, from their arrival, the guests begin to notice strange behavior from their hosts.
“SPEAK NO EVIL: MISPLACED TRUST – THE REVIEW”
The power of a film like “Speak No Evil” lies in shattering the viewer’s expectations, dragging them deeper into an unrelenting nightmare that unfolds progressively and organically, leading to a harsh and brutal climax that is unforgettable and could disturb even the strongest stomachs. While audiences can watch the Hollywood remake of the same title in theaters, starring James McAvoy, we have decided to delve into the original Danish version, available on both Amazon Prime Video and RaiPlay.
A THRILLER WITH HORROR ELEMENTS
The story gradually takes on horror atmospheres, with alleged supernatural scares and earthly violence that leave no escape, portraying the banality of Evil that brings out the darkest sides of the soul where one least expects it. The screenplay relies on a certain recklessness from the protagonists, who even when they realize something is wrong, are always ready to give a new chance – indeed, trusting is good, but not trusting would be better.
“DO NOT OPEN THAT DOOR”
The narrative induces a growing discomfort, with the audience identifying with potential victims facing uncomfortable situations on multiple occasions: as Louise, a vegetarian, is persistently offered meat, or when Patrick drives drunk with loud music, endangering everyone. The mystery centers on the figure of little Abel, whose presence and condition prove crucial in the shocking final twist that definitively reveals the ongoing infamy.
POWER STRUGGLES AND CONSEQUENCES
In this tale of power and concessions between the two parties, liberating screams in the middle of nowhere seem like an unwitting last wish before the dramatic showdown, where the knots are untied in the most brutal and bloody ways. With language as a barrier and key element in the interaction between the two couples, who communicate in English while hiding when necessary, “Speak No Evil” tackles the prejudices of a contemporary society where everything is taken for granted, with dire consequences.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Two seemingly similar couples with children meet again after their initial encounter. The Dutch Patrick and Karin invite the Danish Bjorn and Agnes to their remote home for what should be a fun weekend. Or so the unwitting guests thought.
With the remake currently in theaters, it’s the perfect opportunity to rediscover the original “Speak No Evil,” a thriller that gradually descends into pure horror, dragging us into a tale of lies and deceit, where passivity becomes a self-destructive aspect in the face of the ruthless extremism of an uncompromising Evil. The escalating tension in this linguistic miscommunication offers director and screenwriter Christian Tafdrup the ideal means to explore the controversies of a society where one is often a victim of oneself and one’s mistakes.