This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is spaced a full two weeks apart from National Day, prompting a shift in the usual trend of new films premiering at the end of September. Starting this weekend, a slew of new releases will hit theaters. The films set to debut during the Mid-Autumn and National Day holiday periods are primarily domestically produced. Although Hollywood blockbusters like "Deadpool" and "Logan" are notably absent, there are still several worth-watching imported films, with the thriller "Speak No Evil" expected to stand out among the newcomers.

Poster for "Speak No Evil"

"Speak No Evil" is adapted from the 2022 film of the same name by Danish director Christian Tafdrup, and is produced by Blumhouse, a company known for crafting horror films. The movie is directed by British filmmaker James Watkins, who previously directed "Eden Lake," and stars James McAvoy in the lead role.

The story follows American couple Louise and Ben, who recently moved to the UK and take their daughter Agnes on a vacation in Italy, where they meet a British couple. In contrast to the dull, middle-class European families they encounter during their travels, the husband Patti, who claims to be a doctor without borders, and his lively young wife Sheila, are refreshing and candidly mention that their son, Ant, suffers from emotional problems. Upon returning to the UK, the family is invited to Patti and Sheila's remote countryside home for the weekend. However, they soon begin to feel increasingly uncomfortable in Patti’s presence and within this family dynamic...

Still from "Speak No Evil"

While the original Danish version focused on satirizing the middle class, the new adaptation by James Watkins shifts the emphasis onto character development. Whether it’s McAvoy’s unpredictable portrayal of Patti, the despicable yet pitiable Sheila played by Ǽslyn French, the brave and cunning Louise played by Mackenzie Davis, or Scott McNairy's seemingly weak yet loving Ben, each character is more vivid and multifaceted than those in the original. Thus, the original's unrealistic motivations for character behaviors aimed at highlighting middle-class rigidity are notably diminished in this adaptation; additionally, the infusion of comedic elements significantly enhances the entertainment value during the audience's engagement with the film.

Although it’s classified as a thriller, "Speak No Evil" does not rely heavily on suspense; on the contrary, it reveals the villain Patti's true nature early on. Both Louise in the film and the audience outside it can sense his violent and authoritarian tendencies beneath his seemingly easygoing facade. However, watching how he simultaneously self-destructs, reassures, commits atrocities, and acts foolishly is captivating enough.

James McAvoy plays the villain Patti in the film.

While the film itself provides a somewhat shallow depiction of Patti’s motivations, with only a few lines hinting at his abusive childhood, viewers familiar with Watkins' "Eden Lake" may easily draw parallels to Patti’s development: the teenagers who wreaked havoc in the latter grow up to become Patti. Additionally, McAvoy's exceptional performance somewhat compensates for the character's lack of depth, making this embodiment of "toxic masculinity" more absurd than terrifying. This suggests that, rather than class conflict, it is the message of this transformative adaptation that Watkins aims to impart to the audience.

In a previous interview with Empire magazine, James McAvoy disclosed that he gathered significant inspiration from the internet personality Andrew Tate while conceiving his portrayal of Patti. Tate is widely regarded as a prominent figure representing "toxic masculinity" in the contemporary Western world. At 37, he was born in Washington, D.C., but gained fame in the UK through professional kickboxing, winning several titles in the light heavyweight division. After retiring, Tate participated in the UK reality TV show "Big Brother," which introduced him to the public eye. However, it was online, through various paid sites where he promised to teach people how to make quick money (which essentially operate on a pyramid scheme model), that he really became known worldwide, amassing significant wealth in the process. A hallmark of Tate’s rhetoric is his plethora of misogynistic remarks, asserting he aims to liberate oppressed men globally. For his various controversial statements and inappropriate behavior, Tate currently faces multiple lawsuits.

James McAvoy notes that Andrew Tate was a significant inspiration while shaping his character.

“Patti would likely see himself as a kind of British countryside version of Andrew Tate. He acts as if he's saying, 'Let me teach you what it means to be a real man,’” McAvoy explained. “Of course, he doesn’t entirely embody Tate's overtly aggressive demeanor; he puts on a more polite facade.”

In addition to Andrew Tate, McAvoy mentioned two other sources of inspiration: “One is the Australian term 'bogan,' which often refers to someone who is unrefined and tasteless, and may also be related to a degree of toxic masculinity; the other is Mark Rylance's outstanding portrayal of 'the rooster' character in the play 'Jerusalem.'”

As it premiered domestically, "Speak No Evil" also began its release in North America and many other regions worldwide on Friday (September 13). After the embargo on film reviews was lifted midweek, it scored 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing the original Danish version's 84% freshness rating.