If you like a slow burn, then this Danish horror film, Speak No Evil (Danish title: Gæsterne), is for you!
The creepy premise of seemingly nice people acting suspiciously sinister is held for a long time in the narrative, and, as a viewer, I myself waffled back and forth with the protagonist family on whether or not the people they had trusted were truly threatening or simply weird.
When the narrative unfolds into its ultimate climax and conclusion, the reveal and the final leg of the family’s journey is intense, interesting and quickly paced, which was a relief to me. I was glad that the movie wasn’t just an hour and a half of a family being tortured in the country.
The character development and narrative were complex and very well done, especially the subtle unnerving interactions of the antagonists with the protagonist family that gave clues that something wasn’t right. For example, early on, the protagonists give a souvenir to the antagonist family, and the antagonist wife’s reaction to the souvenir of disapproval and dislike of the gift is unexpected and awkward, and suggests so much about her as a person. The acting was subtle but clear.
Definitely watch this movie!
Tafdrup, Christian. Speak No Evil, Nordisk Film / September Film, 2022.
The Devil's Muse 