James McAvoy’s twisted new horror film is now streaming (and certified fresh)

James McAvoy’s latest psychological horror film, Don’t speak evilis out this Friday from Peacock and brings with it an impressive 84% Certified Fresh rating Rotten tomatoes and one of the actor’s scariest performances. That’s quite an achievement considering McAvoy has had a prolific career in genre cinema, with fan-favorite performances in films like… Doctor Sleep, ShareAnd It’s chapter two. Still, there is a reason for it Don’t speak evil became a big hit. This Hollywood remake of the Danish film of the same name is a dark and disturbing tale that will resonate in the darkest corners of the mind long after the credits roll.

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Don’t speak evil is about an American family who accepts an invitation to spend a weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they met on vacation. The trip was intended to celebrate human connection, but soon after the Americans arrive, things start to get stranger. Although director James Watkins changed the ending of the original film to make it less disturbing, the Hollywood version of Don’t speak evil is still a mean horror film designed to make the audience afraid of other people.

(Related: ‘American Horror’ Remakes to Stream After Watching ‘Speak No Evil’)

Of course, not everyone was happy with Watkins’ move. Filmmaker Christian Tafdrup, director and co-writer of the original Don’t speak evilHe was vocal about how the American remake ruined its relentless ending. Some reviews agreed with Tafdrup, as the original film was conceived as a dark examination of the horrors people endure in the name of civility, a concept that is partially lost in the remake. Still, that didn’t stop Watkins’ version from achieving decent box office success.

Don’t speak evil Successful trip

Don’t speak evilBlumhouse Productions’ journey to the big screen began in early 2023 when Blumhouse Productions announced that Watkins would write and direct the remake of the Danish film that had become a Shudder sensation. The project quickly gained momentum in April 2023 when James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis joined the cast and Scoot McNairy signed on the following month.

Principal photography began in Croatia before moving to England in May 2023. Production faced an unexpected challenge when filming was halted just five days before completion due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. However, filming resumed in mid-November after the writers managed to get better contracts with Hollywood studios.

Made on a modest budget of $15 million. Don’t speak evil premiered on September 9, 2024 at the DGA Theater in New York City before hitting theaters nationwide on September 13. The film quickly proved to be a commercial success, debuting to $11.5 million in its opening weekend and securing second place behind at the box office Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. As of November 2024, the film had grossed an impressive $76.7 million worldwide, of which $36.9 million came from domestic cinemas. The film’s strong performance has made it Blumhouse’s most successful release of 2024, surpassing other titles such as Imaginary, Night swimmingAnd Worried.

Don’t speak evil is now streaming on Peacock. For those who prefer physical media, the film is also available on Blu-ray and DVD.