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I finally saw Speak No Evil and I have to talk about a major change from the original

Online Niel November 15, 2024

2022 Danish thriller Don’t talk bad it left me and others uneasy in the best way, with its dark nature, overall message, and choices leading up to the ending. It’s a brilliant horror film deserved the recognition of a major award at that time and therefore I was excited and worried about James Watkins Don’t talk bad redo

Honestly, I was probably more annoyed by the idea as far as learning James McAvoy has signed to stay He is one of my favorite actors and someone I trust to pick exciting projects. I didn’t know if this would be it one of his best performancesbut I knew it would be at least a good one, and my faith in the actor proved justified, because he gave another fearsome performance. It’s downright terrifying in Don’t talk bad.

The Scottish actor’s performance isn’t the only fascinating thing about the English language Don’t talk badwhich makes some major changes from the source material that definitively differentiate the two films. Others may not enjoy the changes, but I liked them, so let’s dive in.

Warning Don’t talk bad spoilers ahead! Proceed with caution if you haven’t watched!

Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy and Alix West Lefler looking worried in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

The Daltons fight the end of Speak No Evil

In the original Don’t talk badBjørn (Morten Burian) and his wife Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch) meet Patrick (Fedja van Huet) again after trying to escape to their so-called friend. Things escalate and Karin (Karina Smulders) cuts the tongue out of Louise and Bjørn’s daughter Agnes (Liva Forsberg). Louise and Bjørn are then taken to a ditch and stoned to death. We later see Agnes taken in as Karin and Patrick’s new mute child as they already start looking for her replacement.

Couple that with Patrick and Karin drowning their “son” Abel (Marius Damslev) in the pool, and it’s clear that the original Don’t talk bad the ending is extremely bleak and shows the family basically walking meekly to death. The year 2024 Don’t talk bad take the opposite direction.

Louise (Mackenzie Davis), Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Agnes (Alix West Lefler) are all fighting for survival and also all helping to stop Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi). The film also vindicates Ant (Dan Hough), allowing him to deliver the final blow to Paddy.

Just before Don’t talk bad remake premiered, I suspected that this version would change the final act. Americans love a happy, hopeful ending, so as bold and brilliant as the remake might have been, hewing closer to the original fate of the main characters, it probably wouldn’t have been as popular a conclusion among typical American viewers.

In addition, the original Don’t talk bad it’s very atmospheric and creepy. The remake is more of a horror thriller, which often means some major fight scenes happen. We got to see the Dalton family fighting hard to survive.

As much as I loved the dark ending of the Danish-Dutch original, I’m glad the remake didn’t follow the same path. It made the last act surprising and offered some hope, which unfortunately I’m a badass for, but I don’t think the ending is necessarily without sadness. It’s different movie with a wild endingjust in a different way than the 2022 movie.

Scoot McNairy looking concerned in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

The ending of the remake changes the entire message of the original story

I interpreted the original Don’t talk bad to be a film about thanks and don’t fight back, with the most chilling and haunting line: “Because you left me.” Patrick and Karin succeed because Bjørn doesn’t fight them and also ignores clear signs of danger in the process.

By the time he realizes the other family’s true nature, it’s too late. He led his loved ones to their deaths and took none of the many chances he had to save them from that fate.

Ben makes some similar mistakes in the newer version, but still fights back. The year 2022 Don’t talk bad seems to be about a man who is too passive and idolizes a monster. The year 2024 Don’t talk bad it’s about a survivor who learns to stand up for himself and fight for his family. Ben is the one who should have become Bjørn in an idealized universe. These simple changes completely defeat the respective purposes of the films.

The Danish-Dutch Don’t talk bad it’s more of a cautionary tale and a look at the dark side of unchecked power and control. It’s about what people become when you don’t fight evil. The American version is more of a hero fantasy about a cuckolded husband who becomes the hero his family needs and earns their respect.

Scoot Mcnairy takes the lead while Mackenzie Davis and Dan Hough watch Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

Speak No Evil allows Ben and Louise to become heroes

Ben isn’t the only one who becomes a hero Don’t talk bad. Louise does the same. In many ways, it feels like she does more to save the family than he can, and it helps convince the audience to respect these characters.

The film also breaks the conventional ideas of film heroes. Louise and Ben are just parents struggling to save their children and themselves as opposed to having specialized talents.

They’re not a perfect match, but they’re still trying to be the best partners and parents they can be.

James McAvoy looks scary in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

It shows the true meanness of Paddy viewers

James McAvoy made a great decision when he didn’t watch the original movie before doing Don’t talk bad. This choice allowed him to bring his brand to Paddy. This character is so intense from start to finish that it’s almost unbelievable that Ben finds him charming. Until the end Don’t talk badPaddy proves he’s worse than we thought.

Not only did he physically and emotionally abuse these children and kill them and their parents, but he probably sexually abused them as well, at least some of them. Ciara claims she was one of the children Paddy stole and became his wife. She was the first child stolen. He got it when he was about twelve years old (Agnes’ age). At first, it seems like he can only say this to manipulate Louise. However, earlier in the don’t talk bad Louise and Ben note how young Ciara is compared to Paddy.

Then, when Paddy grabs Agnes, he mentions taking care of him. With Ciara dead, he wants Agnes to take her place. This basically confirms that he can add being a rapist to his list of many bad deeds. Paddy is a truly evil character and that’s what makes McAvoy’s performance so captivating. His evil layers peel away all the more Don’t talk bad continue.

Dan Hough screaming in Speak No Evil.

(Image credit: Blumhouse Productions)

The ending changes from bleak to hopeful, but remains dark

The ant delivers the final blow that kills Paddy. Ben wants to leave him, but Ant needs Paddy dead and beats him with a rock. This is a grim ending because now he has become a killer. In addition, Ciara and Paddy inflicted so much torture and abuse on the boy. We can assume that Ben and Louise might now adopt Ant, but that doesn’t save him from this traumatic experience and how taking a life can haunt him forever.

The ending offers some hope, with Agnes finally giving up her bunny and giving it to Ant. It’s a sweet gesture, but it doesn’t erase all his pain and suffering. The ant survived, but just barely.

I liked both versions of it Don’t talk bad and appreciate that the American one just didn’t copy the original but tweaked it to appeal to the target audience. It makes the viewing experience more exciting because you don’t know what’s going to happen next.

Rent or buy Speak No Evil on Amazon.