An American family on holiday in Italy befriend a British family who later invite them to their farm in rural Devon. What should have been an idyllic weekend away turns into psychological torture as a series of micro-aggressions turn into a matter of life or death. 

The American Dalton family consisting of Ben (Scoot McNairy), Louise (Mackenzie Davis) and daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) are finding their time in Italy a little trying. Some family tensions have spurred on the trip but they seem unable to relax and forget them. And they also have to contend with an incredibly boring Danish family who seem to want to sit with them at every dinner. Cue the rather brash Felts family from Britain. Paddy (James McAvoy), Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and their mute son Ant (Dan Hough) are forthright and carefree. They befriend the Daltons and spend the rest of the holiday with them. Leaving with an invitation to their family home in Devon. 

When the Dalton’s take them up on the offer though they immediately begin to regret it. But politeness stays their hand and they try to make do. Agnes is asked to sleep on the floor in the corner of Ant’s room. Ben and Louise’s sheets are stained and dirty. Paddy forces vegetarian Louise to eat meat. And slowly but surely the uncomfortable nature of the stay escalates. 

Of course both families have some dark secrets they do not want the other to know. It is just that some are far more extreme than the others.

Writer/director James Watkins has done a fantastic job of adapting the 2022 Danish film whose original title was Gaesterne, or “The Guests” before being changed to Speak No Evil for international audiences. I particularly like the fact that he has the boring couple plaguing the Dalton family at the start of the film be Danish and I am certainly keen on seeking out a viewing of the original film that sounds even darker than this adaptation. Which is saying something given the diabolical acts of evil that are slowly revealed here. 

James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis are the stand out performers. One starts out brash before plumbing the depths of sociopathic behaviour whilst the other begins rather fraught and compliant before becoming frantic and focused. It’s thoroughly fascinating to try and understand how their relationship with their own family members shape their reactions and behaviour towards the other family. 

As with all good horror movies the tension slowly ratchets up before delivering a tense and brutal finale. 

Great stuff.