Speak No Evil (Sundance '22)
I am traumatized after the ending of Speak No Evil. It is an ending I will never forget due to the power of the script during the climax, Christian Tafdrup’s fresh take as director, Erik Molberg Hansen’s cinematography, Nicolaj Monberg’s editing, and of course the performances. I knew the whole time where the movie was headed, but I wasn’t ready for that shocking climax. I haven’t felt such a visceral response to a film since seeing The Exorcist at eight years old, and horror / thriller are two of my favorite genres. If you don’t like Lars Von Trier, Michael Haneke, or Yorgos Lanthimos’ early work then this isn’t the film for you.
The film is about a Danish family, Bjorn (Morten Burian), Louise (Sidsel Siem Koch), and their daughter Agnes (Liva Forsberg), who meet and befriend a Dutch family, Patrick (Fedja van Huêt), Karin (Karina Smulders), and their son Abel (Marius Damslev), on a vacation in Italy. Months later Patrick and Karin invite Bjorn and Louise to their home in Holland for a vacation upon which they agree. What is supposed to be a pleasant time among new friends, devolves into a dreadful experience with tragic consequences.
Thematically the film questions have we become too polite as a society? What happens when we go against our true instincts to avoid conflict despite red flags. Coupled with the inner breakdown of people who wear masks every day avoiding desires in order to run the hamster wheel of surviving and managing daily life.
The majority of the film is Bjorn and Louise at Patrick and Karin’s home and staying there beyond what their comfortable with for the sake of being polite.
There are a lot of plot holes within the middle of the film. Yes, people would be polite up to an extent, but Bjorn and Louise make poor decisions for a friendship they haven’t invested enough energy and time into to warrant them to abandon their innate instincts.
The music drove me crazy because it is trying too hard to be ominous, and is clunky throughout the entire film.
Erik Molberg Hansen’s cinematography is so haunting in this film, and added so much depth and texture to the unforgiving landscape, but also heightened the paranoia, claustrophobia, and devastation. Nicolaj Monberg’s editing in this is incredible.
I am blown away by Sidsel Siem Koch and Morten Burian’s performances. They both made me believe that this tragedy was actually happening. The power and how vulnerable they are in their despair through their physicality was heartbreaking. I cannot wait to see them in their next roles.
Christian Tafdrup is one of the most talented directors working right now. I don’t agree with every choice he made, but he brought me to my knees emotionally. He should be proud of this accomplishment, and I cannot wait to see what he does next.