Don’t talk to strangers is “sold” as a horror movie. But despite being produced by Blumhouse, a studio that has dedicated itself to the genre, the film with James McAvoy y Mackenzie Davis It’s more of a suspense thriller with the occasional scene where a character bleeds.
It is the remake of the Danish film of the same name (Speak No Evil), by Christian Tafdrup, quite recent (it is from 2022). In it, it was a Danish family visiting a Dutch woman they had met on vacation.
Now it is an American family, who recently settled in the United Kingdom, who are travelling to spend a weekend at the home of the couple they met in Italy over the summer.
The owners of the house – a farm conveniently away from everything – are adorable, starting with Paddy (the Scottish James McAvoy, without making the faces that were asked of him. M. Night Shyamalan in Fragmentedanother thriller rather than a horror), a doctor without borders. His wife, Ciara (the Irish Aisling Franciosi) is considerably younger than Paddy, with whom they have a son, Ant (Dan Hough) “who has difficulty communicating”.
James McAvoy, the owner of the farm who welcomes the family he met on vacation. Photos Universal/UIP
Little Ant was born with the shortest tongue, so not only is he reluctant to be with strangers, but when he tries to speak, you can’t understand a word he says. The Daltons, Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise (Mackenzie Davis), have a daughter, Agnes (Alix West Lefler), who clings to a stuffed animal that calms her anxiety.
That weekend in the country will serve you well.
To be worried
Those who go to the cinema to see Don’t talk to strangers expecting a horror movie they will surely start to get restless when the minutes pass and, out of terror, not a jump, not a drop of blood (well, some yes) not a bit of fear.
Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Paddy (James McAvoy) don’t fight: they yell at each other.
James Watkins, the director of Eden Lakewhich was more of a horror film, and The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe, changes little or nothing from the original, apart from, obviously, the nationalities, to take viewers to a third act in which, yes, things do become a bit sinister.
But never enough to cover one’s eyes.
There is something ominous about Paddy’s behaviour. The abuse of his disabled son and other issues are beginning to get on Louise’s nerves, and the Canadian actress Terminator: Dark Fate, Blade Runner 2049 y Tully She plays with the necessary amount of credibility as a concerned mother hiding a secret.
The moment before a certain revelation…
Her husband is played by McNairy (Argo, 12 years a slaveboth Oscar winners), who has a role that asks her to be in the middle, almost like a hybrid until things get decidedly intense.
With the exceptions already mentioned, Don’t talk to strangers It is still an entertaining film, much talked about until the third act, the action itself, arrives.
“Don’t talk to strangers”
Thriller UK, 2024. Original title: “Speak No Evil”. 110′, SAM 16. Of: James Watkins. Con: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough. Salas: Cinemark Palermo, Hoyts Dot, Cinépolis Recoleta and Pilar, Showcase Belgrano, Norcenter and Haedo.