EntertainmentMoviesHorror MoviesSpeak No EvilSpeak No Evil director defends remaking a two-year-old movie and changing one of its best scenes: “I wanted to make a film that is tense"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesHorror MoviesSpeak No EvilSpeak No Evil director defends remaking a two-year-old movie and changing one of its best scenes: “I wanted to make a film that is tense"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
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(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
Although the original Speak No Evil movie only came out less than two years ago, writer-director James Watkins feels like his remake is different enough to stand out as he defends some of the changes he made to the original story.
“There’ll be people that see the original movie and go, ‘Why hasn’t he remade that movie? Why hasn’t he made this incredibly punchy, unrelenting ending?'” Watkins tellsSFX magazinein the new issue, which features Agatha All Along on the cover and hits newsstands on September 4.
“But I would argue, with my characters and their journey, I’m following through their journey in terms of agency and how they would react. What I’ve taken from Christian’s film is the satire, the exploration of the social rules, and how we react.”
Watkins’ take, also titled Speak No Evil, seems to follow the same premise at face value, swapping the Danish and Dutch families for American and English ones. But the director suggests that audiences will get a surprise upon its release as he has changed some of the movie’s most poignant scenes. “I’ve made an incredibly bleak movie before, so I didn’t feel I needed to make another one,” he says.
“You can give people an incredibly tense roller coaster ride that has thematic nourishment and things to take away and talk about in the pub, but it can be fun.” One of horror fans' biggest concerns when the remake was announced was how some of the original Shudder movie’s more raw themes would translate to a mainstream audience on the big screen. Watkins says this is all down to adding a bit of “fun” as he calls it.
“People need fun… Fun in inverted commas. I’ve sat with audiences and people come out of this absolutely rinsed, like you would on a great roller coaster ride,” explains Watkins. “I wanted to make a film that is tense and has people screaming at the screen.”
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Starring as the hosts from hell are James McAvoy and Stopmotion star Aisling Franciosi. The cast also includes Blade Runner 2049’s Mackenzie Davis and Narcos: Mexico’s Scoot McNairy as the unknowing victims.
Not a subscriber to SFX? Thenhead on over here to get the latest issues sent directly to your home/device!
Speak No Evil releases on September 13. The original is available to stream on Shudder. Read more inthe latest issue of SFX magazine, which features Agatha All Along on the cover and will be available from Wednesday, September 4.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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4
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”