Parents' Guide to Speak No Evil

McAvoy gives a menacing, commanding performance as an aggro dad in this effective horror-thriller remake. The original Speak No Evil, written and directed by brothers Christian and Mads Tafdrup, was made in the vein of Michael Haneke or Ari Aster and had a shockingly grim climax. While this version stays true to the original for the first two acts, it makes major changes to aspects of the third act. Audiences who like their horror films nihilistic will probably prefer the original, but it's likely that most moviegoers—especially those with limits to watching even fictional violence against children—will find Watkins' interpretation easier to watch, even though it is still quite violent.

The four adult leads do far better with their performances than you might expect (or even need) from a mainstream horror film. McNairy and Davis manage to convey everything from envy to embarrassment to the very specific disappointment that many guests feel when their accommodations are subpar but social niceties make it impossible to complain. McNairy is especially fantastic as a mild-mannered husband who lacks the gravitas he sees in Paddy, and Franciosi is well cast as the seemingly adoring young "trad wife" who has hidden depths. Davis' character is easy to root for since, unlike her husband, her instincts are telling her that something is seriously amiss. And the child actors, Lefler and Hough, are remarkably good at having gesture-filled conversations. But ultimately it's McAvoy who drives this movie with an overwhelmingly charming energy that, on a dime, turns terrifying.