SPEAK NO EVIL – WHY DOES THE HUMAN CONDITION STRUGGLE WITH CONFRONTATION?

Speak No Evil – Why does the human condition struggle with confrontation?

14/11/2022

British culture is entombed in the idea that we must always be polite. What’s a bit of confrontation if it keeps you and your family safe?

Speak No Evil – Why does the human condition struggle with confrontation?

Halloween has just packed its bags and left. That doesn’t mean that we can’t spend long cold winter nights watching horror movies, right? One thing that horror movies usually excel at is getting that blood pumping, there’s a cold of living crisis affecting the world at the minute so forget about putting the central heating on and just watch horror movies – the blood pressure will provide all the warmth you could ever require.

Speak No Evil was suggested to me by an author friend. He promised it would scare the living shit out of me and that the ending was like nothing he’d ever seen before. It’s a a Danish domestic horror from writer and director, Christian Tafdrup. It’s a story about a family who becomes acquainted with some new friends whilst abroad. They hit it off and they have a son the same age as their daughter. It’s all a bit too perfect so when they’re invited to come to stay with them, they finally decide why not? What could possibly go wrong?

It really batters home the idea that confrontation is a dish most people don’t wish to eat from. It’s uncomfortable, tastes bitter, and can change the dynamics of relationships beyond repair. British culture is entombed in the idea that we must always be polite. What’s a bit of confrontation if it keeps you and your family safe?

SYNOPSIS

On a vacation in Toscana, a Danish family instantly becomes friends with a Dutch family. Months later, the Danish couple receives an unexpected invitation. It doesn't take long before the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings.

Never speak to strangers isn’t that what every child is taught growing up? It’s a real shame that adults in horror movies fail to remember that early lesson. Bjorn and his wife, Louise meet new friends in Tuscany, they hit it off and they decide to take their invitation to stay with them. They bring their daughter, Agnes so that she can play with their son, Abel. He is unable to communicate verbally due to a congenital condition in which he was born without a tongue. They travel to the Netherlands to the remote home in the woods. The atmosphere and the musical score are leading you down a deserted path with nothing at the end but watching eyes and suspicious behaviour.

Their hosts, Patrick and Karin initially seem like friendly, amiable hosts. It’s just the little things that have Bjorn and Louise puzzled and concerned. Patrick pushes Louise to eat meat, knowing full well she’s a vegetarian, the way he pulls Abel off the slide to let Agnes have a shot. It’s not the actions of a loving father or a good host. He pushes through the couple’s boundaries with no consideration for their feelings.

So here I am going to address the first thing that kind of boiled my piss. Patrick and Karin took the couple out for dinner and drinks. Sounds like a nice thing to do for your guests that have never experienced the country’s cuisine, right? The first major red flag for me was the fact that they’d organised a babysitter for their child without consulting them. I think I’d have most definitely put my foot down at that. They didn’t know who this person was, or what their experience with children was like, they knew nothing about him and yet acquiesced. The cherry on top was when Patrick drove them home – drunk. NOPE, nope and nope.

So eventually the mother, Louise decides it’s time to leave after discovering her daughter in bed with the couple. It’s a step too far for her – I mean really it was a step too far at the first step when discovering how they speak to their son…but I guess I digress. They pack up their stuff and leave but they need to return as Agnes has discovered that she’s left her toy rabbit behind. I’m all for being attached to stuff but at this point, I was nearly shouting at the tv ‘and fucking turn back – tell her you’ll buy the biggest stuffed rabbit in the world. Do not go back!’ of course, they went back.

The third act of the story is really where it takes off. The music, the creepy sense of dread, and the discovery made by Bjorn eviscerates the view that this was a kindly invitation extended between two couples. The ending left me feeling numb and angry at the parents especially their refusal to spot and act upon red flags.

Although played to a different tune, Patrick and Karin are intelligent serial killers. They develop unique ways of luring in their victims, but they like to play with their psyche first, making them question reality before it’s too late to act upon it. A game of cat and mouse. Little Abel was the hook. Without the child, their actions would be more detectable but with Abel, they just appeared like a family that has its struggles, like all of us. Abel was their smokescreen and the ultimate destruction of Bjorn and his family.

One line that truly foreshadows the future is ‘That’s very heroic of you.’ Spoke by Patrick when referring to Bjorn coming back for his daughter’s rabbit – that should have been a signifier of what was to come. Why would returning for a rabbit be heroic? So many undertones to the constant conflict with Bjorn between heroism and cowardice. Politeness and the unwillingness to be confrontational about some of their host’s actions play a central role. When he finally stands up for what he believes in, it’s much too late, any boundaries they’d had previously have been well and truly trampled.

YVONNE 🐛 THE COYCATERPILLAR READS

Hi there, I’m Yvonne. Book Reviewer/ General all-round Nerd

Well, what can i say about me? I’m a 32 year old married woman and mum to 3 crazy boys, aged 12,5 and 3. My eldest has a genetic condition that causes a visual impairment so as you can imagine life can be very chaotic and provides many challenges along the way but I would 100% never change any of them. They fulfil my life beyond measure.

I Adore Books – I adore shouting about books! I’m a reviewer of all genres, whether that be Epic Fantasy, Gothic Horror, a historical romance or a race-to-the-end thriller. I will read them all.