Episode Title: Day 2: Speak No Evil (2024) - The Midwestern Goodbye Genre
Episode Summary:
On the second installment of his "31 Horror Movies in 31 Days" challenge, host John Sellmeyer dives into the 2024 American psychological thriller Speak No Evil. A remake of the 2022 Danish-Dutch film, this version is directed by James Watkins and stars James McAvoy, McKenzie Davis, and Scoot McNary.
The episode breaks down the plot, where a family's vacation invitation to a remote English farmhouse turns into a nightmare of social awkwardness and escalating dread. John explores the film's central themes of politeness and the anxiety of violating social norms, even in the face of danger. He humorously dubs this the "Midwestern Goodbye" genre, comparing the characters' inability to leave a bad situation to social horror films like Get Out.
John highlights the film's strengths, including a powerful and chilling performance by James McAvoy, effective tension-building, and smart pacing. He also points out a potential weakness: the main characters' prolonged submissiveness can feel frustrating.
SPOILER ALERT: John shares his favorite scene—the final reveal.
