‘Speak No Evil’: James McAvoy To Star In Blumhouse’s Remake Of Disturbing Dutch Horror

Released just a year ago, Dutch horror Speak No Evil terrified audiences with its story of a vacation gone nightmarishly wrong. And now, because this is how things work, an American version is on the way. Before you immediately scoff that such an acclaimed film is being remade so soon, know that’ll reunite Blumhouse with Split and Glass star James McAvoy.

It’s been a quiet few years for McAvoy, but he’s coming back in a big way with Speak No Evil. Universal and Blumhouse are gung-ho for this one, as they’ve already set an August 9th 2024 theatrical release. The film will be directed by The Woman in Black filmmaker James Watkins, from a screenplay by Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup, director and co-writers of the original Dutch version.

The previous Speak No Evil centered on a Danish couple and their daughter who go on a seemingly idyllic vacation with the Dutch family they befriended on a previous trip. While things start off smoothly, they quickly devolve into one of the most uncomfortable, disturbing horrors in recent memory. This is a movie that will definitely shake you up, or as our reviewer John said, “The film is terrifying and has the potential to shift your reactionary thinking for, at least, a few weeks after seeing it.”

McAvoy last starred in the 2021 mystery-thriller My Son, and hasn’t been seen on the big screen since It Chapter Two in 2019. Coming up for McAvoy is Biblical epic The Book of Clarence from The Harder They Fall director Jeymes Samuel.

Travis Hopson
Travis Hopson has been reviewing movies before he even knew there was such a thing. Having grown up on a combination of bad '80s movies, pro wrestling, comic books, and hip-hop, Travis is uniquely positioned to geek out on just about everything under the sun. A vampire who walks during the day and refuses to sleep, Travis is the co-creator and lead writer for Punch Drunk Critics. He is also a contributor to Good Morning Washington, WBAL Morning News, and WETA Around Town. In the five minutes a day he's not working, Travis is also a voice actor, podcaster, and Twitch gamer. Travis is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), and Late Night programmer for the Lakefront Film Festival.