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Warning: Spoilers for both versions of Speak no evil are in play. If you haven’t seen either variant yet and want to be surprised, you have been warned.
Although it was one of the more modest successes of the Cinema program 2024 Universal and Blumhouse Speak no evil has started to make a name for itself among horror fans. However, this is not always a good thing, because the director/co-writer Speak no evil‘s disturbing original form Christian Tafdrup was absolutely not a fan. In fact, he was very critical of the film in general, especially the difference between the endings of the two films.
What the director of the original “Speak No Evil” thinks is wrong with the remake
As a guest on Danish Radio Kulturen (via World of Roles), Tafdrup gave his opinion on how the James McAvoy-directed film twisted the intent of its 2022 source material. More specifically, the man who helped create the world that started it all had this culturally-tinged perspective to offer:
I don’t know what it is about Americans, but they are raised for a heroic story where good must triumph over evil, and this version of the film cultivates that. … (The audience) was completely over-enthusiastic, clapping, laughing and cheering. It was like a rock concert. … People … left my film traumatized.
For the right person, this criticism must hurt more than being stabbed in the face with a box cutter. Especially when Tafdrup compares the overall experiences of the images with such a sharp contrast. After learning how different the two experiences are, I must admit that I was overwhelmed by the difference between the Speak no evil I saw the film in the cinema last weekend and the experience that inspired it. And to delve deeper into this paradox of thought, we must delve into the gruesome details of what exactly happened.
How the ending of Speak No Evil differs between the original and the remake
For those of you who weren’t there Speak no evil modestly successful openingthis is the last chance to turn back before I give the game away. This is a good time for you to either head to the theater to see the Universal/Blumhouse reissue or watch the original via digital rental/Shudder’s streaming library.
Reading Christian Tafdrup’s further reaction, the differences in Devilish portrayed in both films helped me realize that it was probably a good thing that James McAvoy avoided watching the original Speak no evil. The ending of the American remake is a comparatively cheerful affair, especially compared to Tafdrup’s recollection of the original finale, which goes as follows:
When I saw the film yesterday, I knew they would never be able to make a film where the characters are stoned to death, like in our film. These people (in the US version) have to fight for their family and defeat the bad guys (…) It’s a kind of happy ending, and it’s so deeply rooted in their culture that America has to deal with it.
I can’t deny that Speak no evil ’24 ends in a way that’s more typical of an “American remake,” though James McAvoy’s critically acclaimed performance still manages to be absolutely terrifying. Compared to the central Danish couple meeting the gruesome fate described above, it feels like a “happy ending” when characters Louise and Ben Dalton (Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy) break through their captors and escape with young Ant (Dan Hough) in tow.
On the other hand, I’m kind of glad that there is such a strong contrast between the two films, because it at least gives the remake a reason for its existence. Highlighting such differences between these versions of Speak no evil The story might even make people who enjoyed the remake want to rewatch the original and compare the two. Which, hopefully, with Christian Tafdrup, might make up for the whole experience in his own way.
If you have read this story without seeing either version, Speak no evilit’s ok. You can still enjoy the 2024 remake in theaters, while the 2022 original is currently streaming on Shudder. And if you’re afraid of not knowing what upcoming horror movies on the horizon, they are just a stone’s throw away. Use our guide to find out what awaits you in the darkness.
