SPEAK NO EVIL (2024)

Written & Directed By James Watkins 

Based on a screenplay by: Christian Tafdrup & Mads Tafdrup

Cinematography: Tim Maurice Jones and Mark Moriarty 

Editor: Jon Harris 

Cast: James McAvoy, Scoot Mcnairy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi 

A family is invited to spend a whole weekend in a lonely home in the countryside, but as the weekend progresses, they realize that a dark side lies within the family who invited them.


I will admit I didn’t go into this too happily as the trailer pretty much gives away everything 

Luckily, I had seen the original already and was a fan of it so not sure when I learned of the remake though was wondering how they would approach the material.

it’s been Americanized not so much remade maybe rebooted a remix that doesn’t so much as improve, but simplifies. 

Yes, luckily it gives the family at the center, who are the victims. A better chance as well as more to do. At least they strike back unlike the original where you Wonder, why they kept taking what they were dealing with?

Then again film has different reasonings. The original is more of a dark comedy with thriller elements. That is all about societal rules, civility, politeness, and social rules. where this is a more by-the-books thriller, that is intimate and claustrophobic in plain sight

It loses what made the original story, so interesting in the first place. Almost like it’s been defanged to make a more audience, friendly film that tries to add active brutality as its final stamp of shock

There is nothing wrong with that it just feels like water down and feels like it belongs. I don’t feel like they belong to one another, but not originally enough to still form. It’s its own identity.

Though to be truthful, if I had never seen the original, this film wouldn’t be that interesting. It would’ve seemed more like an original thriller that wasn’t anything, in particular, to write home about and feels typical. 

As the original is dark and uncompromising. The true standout stand out of this film is James McAvoy‘s performance where you can only wish the film matched his intensity and performance as it deserves a better showcase and makes me wonder if that is why most audiences give this film high praise so much it

It might also be that it’s rare these days that film of this genre is of superior quality so that sometimes they are over-praised then if the market was flooded with films that matched the quality

GRADE: C+

THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER (2023)

Directed By: Andre Ovredal

Written By: Bragi Schut Jr. And Zack Olkewicz

Based on Log Of The Demeter “DRACULA” By Bram Stoker

Cinematography: Tom Stern 

Editor: Julian Clarke, Patrick Larsgaard and Christian Wagner 

Cast: Corey Hawkins, Liam Cunningham, David Dastmalchain, Aisling Franciosi, Chris Walley, Jon jon Briones, Stefan Kepicic, Martin Furland 

A crew sailing from Varna (Bulgaria) by the Black Sea to England finds that they are carrying very dangerous cargo.


This is not a bad film, but it does feel like a lost opportunity where the audience keeps thinking how much better it could be if it used practical effects so there wasn’t so much CGI. Also if the movie was filmed on actual film and not digital, it wouldn’t look so dark and feel more of the period. And if it had been made in the 1980s, it would feel more like either an adaptation or a surprise filled with more imagination, and a studio would maybe Mohr put its full weight behind it either in theaters or even if it was a movie that was faded to end up straight to home video.

As it stands now, it feels too slick and not quite sincere enough to be a success which it should be. 

This is another film, directed by Andre Ovredal. Who adds a black lead to a supernatural historical tale. Which does add excitement and some color to the proceedings. Though here The film remains predictable.

I have seen some audience members attack the film because of the beginning And readers of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the novel, which lets us know what happens or the fate of the crew and characters, but truthfully, that is what most slasher and horror films are guilty of we watch for the how wise and who’s we most likely what will happen? We just come to see how it happens, though. The same can be true of action films and sequels. Especially with stars and specialized starring in those types of films and playing virtually the same character or the same type. So picking on this film for the same reason feels like low-hanging fruit that you know coming in what it would be like and most likely that would be predictable. 

At least the screenwriters and filmmakers offer to flash out that chapter of the book and use their own imagination to ramp up, not only the characters and suspense but, ultimately their fates also try to create a claustrophobic atmosphere on the ship.

Stay entertaining, filled with characters that could have easily failed as this film obviously has passion and quality behind it.

Unfortunately, it comes off as a well-intentioned B-movie. With competing and battling accents among the actors to see who can be the most authentic to a certain rogue or region.

The film has a cast, and Cory Hawkins deserves more leading roles. As well as Aisling Franciosi who always seems to play characters who are surviving in pain.

Though the film seems to be trying to offer an origin to a franchise. we know unfortunately isn’t coming or the beginning of a fruitless search for justice. It’s a shame as the film has all the right ingredients. It’s just that the meal or main course isn’t as tasty as it should be. 

Grade: C