Speak No Evil (2024)

Score: 7 / 10
Category: Movie
Platform: HBO Max

One-line verdict

A tightly paced psychological thriller that builds unease effectively and is elevated by a genuinely menacing performance from James McAvoy.

What worked

• Going in blind helps a lot. The film carefully paces itself, and nearly every scene contributes to the buildup.
• Early on, the tension comes from uncertainty. You keep second-guessing whether Paddy is actually dangerous or just aggressively passionate.
• His behaviour is extreme, but it stays believable for the character. Nothing feels random in the first half.
• The lack of a music score works well. The silence amplifies discomfort and keeps the tension grounded.
• James McAvoy is excellent. With his current physicality, he feels intimidating, dominant, and genuinely threatening.

What broke

• Once Paddy and Ciara reveal their intentions, the movie becomes more straightforward.
• From that point on, it’s less psychological and more procedural, robbing and killing using disabled children.
• There are some noticeable continuity slips, especially during Ciara’s ladder fall, where her eyes are open, then closed, then open again across shots.
• These issues don’t derail the film, but they do break immersion slightly.

What others are saying

• Largely praised for its tension and McAvoy’s performance.
• Some viewers find the second half less subtle than the buildup.
• Frequently compared to the original for tone and execution, with mixed opinions on which version is stronger.

The section below discusses plot details.

Why this worked for me

The film’s biggest strength is how long it keeps you guessing. Before the characters “show their cards,” the tension is psychological and uncomfortable in a good way.

Once the truth is out, it loses some nuance, but the story remains effective. McAvoy’s presence carries the latter half, and his physicality makes him feel unstoppable and dangerous rather than theatrical.

I considered giving this a 6, but the story structure and performance pushed it to a 7. It’s not subtle all the way through, but it’s well made, unsettling, and sticks the landing enough to earn its score.