Speak No Evil (2022) User Reviews

I really like it..but I wouldn't recommend it.

[brandonlewissmu · 8/10 · 17 September 2022]

This is a tricky one. On the one hand, the red flags create an intense feeling of dread. On the other hand, it never should of gotten to that point. The couple was flat-out idiotic. Plain and simple. Reading the reviews, a lot of people disliked the movie because of this. Understandable. It's maddening to see 2 people behave so passively and seal their own fates. I, however, think this was done for that exact reason. I think the director wanted us to feel the this way.

The ending is beyond disturbing but rather than feel anger towards the bad guys, you feel anger towards the good guys for allowing this to happen. That's tough to pull off

It really messed with my emotions. I think that might have been the whole point.

Creepy and tense, but frustrating.

[zeki-4 · 6/10 · 2 June 2022]

This somehow reminded me of the much praised movie 'Get Out' from 2017. You know that some things are off, and that there will be a big reveal coming, after building up characters, atmosphere and plot.

But the last 15 minutes or so, annoyed me and actually ruined it for me. When someone threatens the life of you or your family, even without carrying or using any weapons, you at least try to put up a fight, don't you?

Sleepless.

[leroyspierings · 8/10 · 22 January 2022]

Seen during the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

This probably isn't the best review you'll read as it's been a while since I've posted anything. However, for this film, I'm happy to make the effort.

Words cannot describe how uncomfortable I felt watching the film. The social awkwardness, miscommunication and remote setting make this a very uncomfortable movie to watch. Not to mention the last 30 minutes, where the film turns from a psychological thriller to a twisted horror with horrendous graphic violence (I mean that in the good sense).

I was not yet familiar with Christian Tafdrup's work, but he is definitely putting himself on the map with this film.

Suitable for: People who don't want to sleep at night and have had a lot of fun watching movies like Hereditary and Midsommar.

Not suitable for: People who are going to watch this with their partner. You will get bruises and tears will flow.

PS. I'm from the Netherlands myself, and we're not that bad. As long as you do what we say.

A damning indictment of danish middle class culture wrapped in unnverving horror

[rehams · 7/10 · 3 July 2022]

Speak No Evil is an unnerving and unpleasant experience, particularly if you're middle class danish person like me.

This movie was written for me and my friends, danish middle class people, living sheltered, materially comfortable lives in one of the safest societies in the world.

And in this entitled boredom, there is the middle class danish man Bjørn, who longs to be wild and free, while his wife seems much more at ease, running the show, arranging for elaborate couple's dinners and planning the minutiae.

She is a sometimes vegetarian (for the environment), he dreams of adventure, but ends up settling for expensive bottles of red wine. Such is the life of many middle class couple of Denmark.

The problem of course, with living such a sheltered lifestyle is that you might come to believe that the world is as nice and predictable as your own life.

It's not.

And that's what our danish couple discovers in this movie. There is evil in this world. Real dark and menacing. That will lie and hurt and kill you.

And they will hurt your child and you will let them, because you live in a spoiled fantasy world of middle class Denmark.

Bjørn and Louise can not recognise it when it stares them in the face. Quick to make excuses, at least Bjørn, they do not see narcissism and psychopathy for what it is.

I grew up as a victim of narcissistic abuse and from the first insincere flattery from Patrick, I knew he was bad news. It's called "love bombing" and it's something narcissists and psychopats do. This film was unnerving for me, because I lived through all those abusive methods.

Louise, trusting her feelings, does sense that something is wrong, but danish modern man Bjørn is oblivious, a weak, emasculated man, that during the movie, fails completely in his male role of protector of his family.

In a most damning scene, Bjørn is easily pacified by a few punches to the face, nothing more, no weapons, no threats, just simple painful, but not deadly violence.

It says it all. Bjørn is a failure as primal man. Unable to sense danger, unable to protect, unable to even put up a fight.

And this is it. That's the indictment of danish man, that Christian Tafdrup wants to make.

What is a man, a danish middle class man, with all his wine and his clever remarks and ability to sit through a couple's dinner?

Easy prey for evil.

One of the most twisted movies of 2022.

[antti-hirsimaki · 7/10 · 10 November 2022]

I've watched quite a few horror movies, but this one stands out, as it is one of the most twisted movies I've seen in a while.

I usually don't get scared from horror movies as I know and everyone else knows too probably that they are fiction, but this gave me chills and kept me up the next night, as the ending is pretty dark.

Modern horror movies are still pretty much the same, supernatural, lots of jumpscares, loud noises, etc. You know the drill.

This movie is pretty slow at the beginning, but in my opinion it is a good thing, as you just wait as a viewer what is going to happen, because you know something bad is going to happen, you just don't know what.

As horror fan, I recommend to this to other horror fans.

I feel like good modern horror movies come from Europe nowadays, and this kind of proves that at least in some manner.

The Danish version of "Get Out", without the satisfying end.

[FIoret · 8/10 · 17 September 2022]

The real horror is having these two as parents. I'll assume this sort of compliancy and over niceness is the norm in Danish culture? I'm a black woman living in Midwestern U. S., and you speak to my child with any disregard and I'm stomping you periodt.

Instead of listening to their gut to leave, they stay. Instead of letting their daughter experience the loss of a stuffed animal, they return despite the obvious red flags. And as their daughters tongue is getting cut out, they cry?!? You ain't out numbered, there is no weapons. Claw a b-ish's eye out. Immediately sis.

It's extremely frustrating to watch. I was letting yelling at my screen. The line from Patrick .... 'because you let me', perfectly sums of this movie. I'm just left with rage. Which is what makes this movie brilliant.

Unique plot, amazing acting and a slow unassuming pace. Glad I gave the movie a chance. I'll have to look into other Danish horror/thrillers. Very impressed.

1st half loved it; 2nd one hated it

[treishsase · 6/10 · 11 December 2022]

The film has a great start. The WTF moments start to appear here and there and you get on that "what the hell is going to happen" ride and you enjoy it as a viewer and you think you are in for a treat. The first part of the film has plenty of these to drag you in, leave your room and be there with them and feel those subtle signs that something is very wrong and then I hated it, worst victims ever.

1st half - it was so uncomfortable to watch that I loved it; 2nd half - the victims have ruined that amazing atmosphere built in the 1st half.

Overall, I am just disappointed because it had the potential to be a great horror film without ghosts, evil spirits just mean intentions and pure terror.

It's a 6 for me just for the 1st half.

Hell Is Other People

[TipToeThroughHell · 8/10 · 18 September 2022]

Sometimes the true horror lies in the awkward sneaky uncomfortableness that slowly ratchets into the nearly unbearable. The place where passive-aggressive steadily becomes aggressive. A slow burn becomes pure hell. Funny Games meets Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

Horror is my life, from z list splatter to the arthouse. However, a film that truly makes me uncomfortable is a rarity. As someone with social anxiety, this was my idea of torture. It may not be for everyone, but the crawling tension and discomfort was horror enough for me. Speak No Evil fully proves that Hell truly is other people.

"Why are you doing this?" "Because you let me"

[Clintborari · 7/10 · 30 October 2023]

One word that aptly encapsulates the feeling after watching the end of many horror films is a resounding: Gwahhhhhh. This is precisely how I felt after witnessing the bleak and painful conclusion of "Speak No Evil."

The film, as a whole, is astutely produced. From the title, sinister score, and shrewd camerawork down to the finer details and subtle ominous hints throughout, it coalesces into one of the most unsettling films I've encountered in quite some time. As a family man, it struck a particularly nerve-wracking chord, leaving me with a different perspective on the nature of evil in the world.

"Speak No Evil" is a masterclass in uncomfortable tension. While some may interpret it as a slow burn, I found myself utterly engrossed, almost chewing my nails in anticipation of the social awkwardness and authentic realism. It unearthed why I harbour trust issues when meeting new people.

I wasn't sure how to feel about Bjorn (Morten). As a father myself, rather than sobbing uncontrollably when faced with adversity or no escape, I would have clawed at faces, gouged out eyeballs, and chewed into body parts if it means protecting my daughter. Hell, I mean you must be aware you are not going to be allowed to live, so you might as well take who you can down with you to save your loved ones.

The acting was close to faultless, and the eerie atmosphere was constantly a chilling reminder that something was amiss. What was nerve-wrenching, The family was on their way to freedom halfway through the film before an upset Agnes stresses about her plush bunny, and Bjorn decides it is best to retreat back into the unknown to retrieve the constantly disappearing Ninus.

There were subtle indicators that all was not as it seemed. Abel appeared to be at the centre of it all. Patrick's visibly aggressive approach with Abel left a bitter taste, while Karina's attempts to discipline and bond with Agnes hinted at underlying tensions.

Themes that are explored revolve around Human Psychology and many modern-day fears of not understanding what people are capable of. For starters, with my trust issues, I couldn't fathom the thought of leaving my children with a babysitter. The introduction of the children's minder for the evening Muhajid in this instance feels a little unnatural, and we aren't introduced to any other characters but for Patrick and Karina. The eerily empty restaurant raises unsettling questions. A pivotal moment in this particular scene was the bill, which is deftly manipulated by Patrick, ultimately leading to Bjorn footing the entire evening's expenses.

Following a poignant scene towards the film's conclusion, the music adopts a melancholic tone, foreboding an inevitable resolution. The subsequent car ride, steeped in regret, seeps into the viewer, setting a brutally sombre mood. The subsequent scene, where they are instructed to undress and step into the quarry, a location previously visited by Patrick and Bjorn, felt stark, desolate, and barbaric. It was a moment that left me speechless, struggling to contain the lump in my throat.

The ending of "Speak No Evil" is heartrending and gut-wrenching, evoking a visceral sense of unease and a profound distaste for the harsh realities of life. While I'd love to shower this film with praise for what it did well, I believe a compelling story benefits from elements of retribution or vulnerability, where the villains face consequences. Nevertheless, this film resonates as a profoundly sorrowful narrative, one that will linger with you long after the credits roll.

7/10.

Too polite to stay alive.

[Kitahito · 4/10 · 1 November 2022]

The film is surprisingly strong until about two-thirds of the playtime, when the behavior of the hosts turns from unpleasant to hostile and threatening, and then downright dangerous, and the two protagonists of the film (like the ordinary people they are) are unable to make the smallest gesture in order to survive. Okay, they are just common people, but still human beings. And whatever the movie wants to tell us, that's just not how humans work. If your life is being in danger, or even more so, if your child is being threatened, simply the mere instinct of survival urges you to confront the enemy, especially if you are not significantly outnumbered or outgunned. Stones and deterrent behavior simply cannot prevent this. We are long past the point where impoliteness is a significant factor. So fight or flight! Giving in to the situation in catatonic shock is not an option. It's frustrating that our heroes give up (I guess we die then...) before they even try. So it is very difficult to feel the injustice of the situation and the otherwise well-crafted atmosphere of the horror, when you would like to scream at the characters: Don't go back into the house! Tell your wife what you saw and drive away in a hurry! Call the police! Don't leave your family behind in the middle of nowhere! Pull the steering wheel to crash their car! Bite your captor's neck! Don't get naked, just run and don't look back!

No, because these meek noodles just stand there, defeated by their own unrealistic incompetence, undressed, humiliated, and allowed to be stoned to death by two unarmed individuals. The inaction of our heroes is just bizarre, unrealistic and it poisons the final rating, which could easily have been a solid 7 or 8 , but with disappointment in my heart and with a bad aftertaste in my mouth I have to strongly downgrade the film. I do it because I can.

The perils of political correctness

[andy-nielsen · 9/10 · 18 September 2022]

To me, this reads as a very clever (and very timely) social commentary.

We watch the slippery slope unfold as Danes, Björn and Louise, repeatedly justify and accommodate aggressions and transgressions from their Dutch hosts, Patrick and Karin.

The hosts' toxic behaviours are recast as cultural differences, while their emotionally abusive parenting is framed as "doing things differently".

Louise lets her concerns about leaving her child with an unknown man go unexpressed, fearing her hesitation will be interpreted as racism or bigotry.

The Danes cede more and more ground to their hosts, vainly striving to keep the peace and avoid being seen as impolite. Louise has the better instincts, but is constantly tempered by her affable and accommodating husband.

By the time Björn recognises the threat, he's ill-equipped to protect what he loves the most. And when he asks the all-important question, "why me?", the answer is heartbreakingly simple yet bonechillingly obvious.

Speak No Evil asks its audience a similar question: do we have the capacity and strength of will to fight back when we come under attack, or will we play peacemaker in an attempt to mollify what threatens us?

We don't have to understand why such evil exists - we need only recognise that it does and be prepared to mount a challenge when we encounter it.

No more heroes.

[Victor_Fallon · 7/10 · 18 September 2022]

An uptight couple are invited to spend the weekend with another couple they befriended on holiday. As the movie's ominous score will let you know, things get weird.

Many have compared this to Michael Haneke's work, but it's no pale imitation. Shot composition, camera and lighting is all excellent. The sound design is superb - subtle and very detailed. Everyone acts well.

Apparently, some people dislike the film because there is no 'common sense' or whatever, but I saw a movie that uses plot contrivances to illustrate its meta-narrative points of parenthood, cowardice, selfishness and heroism.

I almost gave it an 8, but it could have gone even further with its cruelty and explored the themes more. There was stuff left to do.

If you want fun and thrills - avoid. It's slow, bleak and heartless. But if you want an intelligent, well-structured and thoughtful horror movie, it's a good 'un.

Warning, major spoilers. But I need to vent my frustrations.

[qfnrdkhjw · 2/10 · 15 September 2022]

The two parents in this movie are just stupid and pathetic as can be. I was already irritated with it the dad by about 20 minutes in. But they both just really suck. They let themselves get manipulated over and over again to the detriment of their own daughter, they went against their own instincts even: they got away twice and still ended up right back there of their own free will. And then, in the end, they didn't even try to fight back. The bad guys had rocks (yes, rocks) and a pair of scissors and these guys practically just laid down and took it. Even after watching these two people cut their daughters tongue out of her face. They didn't even try to fight back. This movie left a bad taste in my mouth.

'The Strangers' Meets 'The Invitation' Meets 'Funny Games'

[CinemaClown · 30 September 2022]

An increasingly unnerving & uncomfortable psychological horror that invokes an air of unease from its opening scene and ultimately descends into an inescapable nightmare, Speak No Evil hints at dark machinations at play even when nothing is happening and makes deft use of the genre elements to deliver a film that's wicked, unforgiving, gut-punching & downright nihilistic.

Co-written & directed by Christian Tafdrup, the premise is simple but the setup isn't hurried as Tafdrup takes his time to acquaint us with the families before disturbing details start surfacing. While it isn't difficult to figure out where the plot is headed and how the unraveling events may play out, it doesn't make the ride any easier as the sense of discomfort only escalates with zero respite.

Brimming with an atmosphere that builds up quietly and is smothering in its intensity once the intentions become clear, the film also benefits from its disconcerting score that forewarns the audience of awaiting malice with its foreboding tracks. The actors chip in with solid inputs but the Danes making awful choices even after several red flags does hurt our investment in them and it only gets worse later.

Overall, Speak No Evil intends to shock, provoke & upset its viewers with its brutal take on the extent to which people choose to stay polite in the face of misdeeds & unpleasantness and at times end up playing an incriminating role in their own torment. And the film takes that idea to the extreme in the finale which will frustrate some. In short, this Danish chiller is a harrowing blend of The Strangers, The Invitation & Funny Games.

Metaphor (Spoilers)

[ixmaninc · 6/10 · 12 December 2022]

Note: As a metaphor, this film is 9/10. As straight entertainment, it's 3/10.

This is a political metaphor for Western Europe. On the face, our soft, too-polite lead couple overlook red flags and and coercive, conniving behavior and, ultimately, meekly walk to their deaths at the hands of their unarmed murderers. This, after watching them cut their daughter's tongue out with dull scissors. Did I mention that their captors are unarmed?

The babysitter who watches the ultimately condemned children for the evil couple? He doesn't speak English, but he's cheap.

The manner of execution of our leads? Stoning. Not subtle, this metaphor.

If you are invested in the characters, you'll be shouting at the TV for the lead couple to "Do SOMETHING, damnit, ANYTHING." Upon reflection, though, you'll realize that's not going to happen, and that the filmmaker likely shares your frustration on a pretty profound level.

A cautionary tail

[kotoridickinson · 7/10 · 11 April 2024]

A good story that reminds us all that it's good to be polite and kind to others. BUT don't allow it to blind you from red flags or anything that could be dangerous to you or your loved ones.

Which is fitting for the title "speak no evil", as the family tries it's hardest not to say anything to offend their new friends or speak badly of them.

It's frustrating to watch at times but if you can remind yourself of the Intent of the film and it's message. It becomes less frustrating.

Overall though a good horror movie to watch, as long as you don't mind seeing children getting hurt and pretty damn dark moments.

I NEVER, EVER WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN.

[andrewchristianjr · 8/10 · 18 September 2022]

The film is so twisted and horrifying in every moral way possible. Very interesting, but that ending made me wanna puke. The moral standpoint and anger I had toward the ending. How do you not do anything in that situation and are somehow a father? The final 15 minutes are horrifically unforgettable, featuring a moment of extreme violence that dares viewers to look away. It is so unsettling, in fact, that the very idea of rewatching the film is outrageous. Speak No Evil is riveting and upsetting in equal measure. And I never, ever want to see it again.

Synopsis: On a vacation in Tuscany, two families -- one Danish, one Dutch -- meet and become fast friends. Months later, the free-spirited Dutch family extends an invitation to the more conservative Danish one for a holiday weekend getaway at their countryside home. However, it doesn't take long before things gradually get out of hand as the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings. The Dutch hospitality quickly turns unnerving for the Danes, and they find themselves increasingly caught in a web of their own politeness in the face of eccentric... or is it sinister... behavior.

Entertaining but pretty unrealistic

[nielshenrikkrogh · 6/10 · 27 August 2022]

Not a bad movie, but at least for me it didn't meet the expectations.....simply too many parts where you are thinking "ahh, come on...really?"

Specially the ending was annoying

• wouldn't someone threatened like that put up more of a fight?

• if the family had really committed this as many times as indicated probably the police would have got them long time ago?

• probably all those kids would have been able to tell someone even with their tongues cut off?

So all in all it started good, but the ending just left me with a "naahhh" feeling......if they had put more efforts into that part it would have been a much better movie....

Sneaky devlish movie

[allankaaber · 8/10 · 16 September 2022]

Slow, manipulative, lies, provoking, ambivalent, awkward, tough watch, pure evil.

***This movie is based on danish culture, and I can understand why some people wouldn't know whats going on or what the point of the movie is. But I will try to make an effort and explain it in short terms***

First of all the movie takes it's time building up suspension. It knows how to manipulate the audience, and it works. Especially if you are danish. The danish couple in this movie acts like most danes normally would in awkward situations. It makes the movie very realistic. The danes would be polite as long as they only FEEL something is wrong. A bit naive maybe, and I think thats what the director is trying to tell us. The danes tend to feel safe, cuz they live in one of the most safe countries on earth and therefore they normally wouldn't be suspecious or think people would harm them. They would see the misunderstandings as culture differences and try to be polite and get the best out of their stay. They wouldn't see that they were being manipulated.

In the first half of the movie the danes gets the sense that something is wrong with the dutch family, but they won't let it affect the mood. But when they SEE something wrong they begin to speak up. The second half of the movie is where the crazy things begins to happen. It's a tough watch, so consider yourself warned.

Tastefully Disturbing

[ryanpersaud-59415 · 7/10 · 22 January 2023]

Coming into Speak No Evil, I was told this was one of the most disturbing movies of all time. It isn't, in my opinion. Maybe I'm desensitized, because while there is a very terrifying and hard to watch sequence in this movie...there's only one, really. On some level, it's my own fault for listening to the hype, and I was somewhat disappointed the movie wasn't more intense.

Also, I can acknowledge that this movie is a, frustrating, experience to say the least. You know when you watch horror movies and scream at the screen for the characters to trust their instincts and LEAVE? Well yeah, this movie will annoy the hell out of you. (Of course, if the characters did the logical thing, the movie wouldn't happen.) I feel like there are cultural differences here too, which explains some of the character's behaviour.

That all being said, this is a good movie. It's extremely tense and uncomfortable, with a lot of the appeal coming from waiting for the shoe to drop.

The film follows a Danish family - Bjorn (Morten Burian) and Louisa (Sidsel Koch) who take up the invitation of a pleasant Dutch family they met on vacation to visit their home in the Dutch countrside. Normal stuff, until the Dutch hosts begin acting somewhat strange and begin testing the Danes' social niceties and tolerance.

As the movie unfolds, it becomes almost unbearable as every cringe inducing moment seems like the one that will bring forth the inevitable horror. The movie does a good job setting up peaks and troughs, and even adding some complexity to the narrative. The men seem to share a bond, Bjorn, somewhat emasculated and timid, embraces the primal spontaneity and energy of his Dutch counter part, Patrick.

And that's what elevates this movie from another paint-by-numbers thriller. The real message of the film, in my opinion, is an indictment of the Danish middle class, so removed from danger and hardship that their human survival instincts seem gone. That the Danes care so much about being polite that this is more important than removing themselves from a dangerous situation.

I think it was deliberate that they meet a Dutch family, people from, as Bjorn says, "a similar culture, more similar to them than the politically correct Swedes." It would've been easy for an exotic foreigner to be the cause of such horror, but I think the film purposefully does this. It's also refreshing to see a film that doesn't treat masculinity as a toxic trait that must be excised. Instead, Speak No Evil puts forth the idea that a man who has lost his masculinity, to the extent that he can barely put up a fight in the face of death, is no man at all.

Speak No Evil is dark, depressing, thought provoking, and not for everyone. But it's a pretty neat little thriller, has some interesting ideas, and is a roller coaster. Check it out.

Why??

[mortenwt · 2/10 · 23 June 2022]

Why have so many critics praised this movie as a masterpiece and one of the scariest movies? There are so many unbelievable things that no normal people would do. Why would the Dutch couple wait three days to kill the parents instead of doing it right away? Why would they risk the parents leaving? Why did the parents return after they left the first time and act like nothing happened? Why didn't they leave after the big fight after the dance of the children? They just went to bed as if nothing happened. Why didn't they put up a fight when the Dutch couple killed them or when they took their daughter? And are we really to believe that the kids can't communicate just because they got their tongue cut out? Tollay unbelievable.

The perennial problem numerously covered in literature.

[jaliyev-84575 · 7/10 · 24 May 2023]

The oldest tale in the book: the strong prey on the weak, where to be strong or weak is nothing but a personal choise.

This sentiment was echoed by the great Russian writer - A. Chekhov in his "Namby-Pamby", a century and a half ago:

" - What do you thank me for?

• For the money...
• But didn't I rob you? Didn't I clean you out, damn me and all?! Didn't I steal your money? Why do you thank me?

• Because at other places they didn't pay me at all...

• Didn't pay you?

No wonder...But how on earth can you be such a milksop? Why not protest? Why be silent? How can you afford to be so toothless in this world? Is it conceivable that anyone could be such a namby-pamby?

She smiled sourly and I read in her face :"Yes, it is!" "

The movie contains similar storyline, where Bjorn asks Patrick why he is being so cruel to them. "Because you let me" is Patrick's reply. This is in reference to the passive behaviour that Bjorn exhibits throughout the film, his toothlessness even during moments when he should have reacted more strongly to Patrick's acts of hostility. As such, Patrick is suggesting Bjorn's silence, his "namby-pamby" nature leads to his downfall.

"It's so easy to be strong in this world" - argues the Chekhov's character...

"It's so easy to resist and fight back" - alludes Tafdrup's Patrick...

"He only earns his freedom and existence who daily conquers them anew..." - screams Goethe's Faust...

"Slave indifference! Resignation, blind obedience... Why don't you curse such a life with all your heart?" - asks Remarque in "Shadows of Paradise"...

"Open your mouth for the mute.." - says Bible.

Don't let them cut your tongue and thus slit your throat! - age-old message that remains as true as ever.

Ok movie until the last part

[kskmah · 3/10 · 17 September 2022]

Acting is fine, but the ending ruined the movie. They are going to hurt and kidnap your child right in front of you and you don't fight back? What kind of parents are these? I would kill or at least fight anyone who would try this to my child. Not only that, the bad man had no weapons and the bad woman only had scissors, not a real weapon. Real parents would die for their children which this movie doesn't realize. Not only that was stupid, you could of kidnapped the kid and cut off her tongue without the parents right there. And then the bad people take you to a remote place, tell you take off all your clothes off and go in a pit. You know you are going to die but once again, they stupid parents don't run or fight back? The bad people again had no weapons. The bad guys started to throw rocks at the parents and kill them that way? I guess you can't run away or fight pretty much normal looking people? A very bad joke of an ending.

A weird comment on our society

[quellcode · 6 July 2022]

Does this movie really want to tell us that the Danish middle class a.k.a. The civilized "Western" man has become "too soft" to put up a real fight?

Are the enemies here really the foreigners (the Dutch and the babysitter)?

There is something troublesome in the movie in that sense, if it wants to make a comment on that - and if it doesn't, it is still troubling and disappointing.

"Why are you doing this to us?" "Because you let me."

[lucyzweers-37255 · 7/10 · 27 August 2023]

Wow. This was... interesting. To say the least. It was also pretty brutal towards the end.

The build-up was great (however a bit long), the acting was terrific and the story holds up. I think this movie teaches a valuable lesson about naivety and false trust.

What did bug me was, once again, the stupidity of the characters. I won't spoil anything, but it was quite frustrating to watch at some points.

However, I really liked it. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone, let alone watch it together with them, but if you're into psychological thriller/horror and don't mind a bit of gore, I'd say go for it.

All in all, interesting, satisfying movie. 7/10.