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‘Speak No Evil’ Review: James McAvoy Is a Hoot as a Vacation Friend From Hell in a Horror-Comedy That Overplays Its Slow Burn
The English-language remake of Christian Tafdrup's breakthrough horror film drops all its art-house pretensions for an overplayed but engaging comedy.
Americans Ben and Louise (Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis, in a winning reunion of AMC’s “Halt and Catch Fire”) are first seen listlessly vacationing in Italy with their 11-year-old daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler), before an encounter with Paddy (McAvoy) and his wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) brightens up the trip. Though it’s hardly his modus operandi, McAvoy has proven that he can go over the top like few actors of his generation can, with memorable performances like the high-as-a-kite bad lieutenant of “Filth,” or the tender-hearted, multiple-personality supervillain seen in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Split.” McAvoy carries scenes through to some memorable ends — pantomimed fellatio while dining out, a micromanaged “Cotton Eye Joe” dance routine — but “Speak No Evil” can’t spin much lingering tension from his performance as it heads to an obvious destination.
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