The ‘Speak No Evil’ Remake Scoot McNairy on Watching the Original

Initially, Dalton, who is at a crossroads in both his marriage and professional life, finds Paddy and Ciara to be a breath of fresh air and almost an inspiration for how they can solve their own problems. When invited to the English couple’s country house, the Daltons (and especially Ben) are eager to use it as a getaway to rekindle their relationship.

Things quickly go downhill when it becomes clear that Paddy and Ciara’s interest in Dalton (and their own relationship with their son Ant) is far more sinister than it first appears.

In a new interview with Business Insider ahead of the film’s release on Friday, McNairy discusses how he came on board the project, which is a remake of the 2022 Danish film “Gæsterne” (literally, “The Guests,” but marketed under Sundance Film Festival). premiered as “Speak No Evil”) and what he thought of the original.

How McNairy joined the ‘Speak No Evil’ remake.

McNairy, an acclaimed actor known for previous roles in “Killing Them Softly,” “Argo” and AMC’s “Halt and Catch Fire,” was intrigued by the project when he learned director James Watkins was at the helm and McAvoy was attached to star. He was excited to collaborate with both of them, and that’s what drove his interest in seeing the original film, which BI reporter Eammon Jacobs previously called one of the best new horror films of 2022.

“I watched the original before I read James Watkins’ script,” McNairy told BI.

The actor said he liked the original. In particular, he appreciated its tone and the simplicity of its plot (notable for its nihilistic and disturbing ending).

In fact, as exciting as the prospect of working with Watkins and McAvoy was, “watching the original is what really excited me to be involved in this franchise,” McNairy said.

How the remake of “Speak No Evil” came about.

So how did the remake happen in the first place, released just two years after the original? It all started with Blumhouse, the production company behind the new film.

According to production notes, producer Jason Blum received a call from an executive at Universal Studios who saw the Danish film at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and was disturbed by it. Blum, for his part, was “struck” when he saw the film and put it in the hands of Watkins, already familiar with Watkins’ work on “Eden Lake” and “The Woman in Black.”

While Watkins took the key and themes of the Danish film, equal parts social satire and thriller, his film is a significant departure from the original.

He changes key details in the identities of the main characters (making the Daltons American, while Paddy and Ciara are country Brits) and reorganizes the entire third act to propel the audience to a new conclusion that is shocking in a different way.

The result is a worthy remake, grounded in McAvoy’s deliciously unflinching performance as Paddy and McNairy’s pitch-perfect haplessness as Ben, that tells a similar story with a slightly different point.

“Speak No Evil” is now in theaters.