In Speak No Evil, the new horror movie from Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, James McAvoy portrays a character named Paddy who invites a couple that he and his wife met on vacation to stay with them at their country house. Despite his mask of hospitality, Paddy’s behavior reveals an unpredictable and possibly cruel side. McAvoy is known for his ability to portray characters with rapidly changing personalities, as seen in his role of playing all 24 of Kevin Wendell Crumb’s personalities in the M. Night Shyamalan films Split and Glass.
Director James Watkins shares that when McAvoy took on the role, he wasn’t thinking of Split. Instead, Watkins was reminded of McAvoy’s performance in the 2013 black comedy Filth, where he plays a reprehensible Scottish cop who begins to unravel while investigating a murder in hopes of securing a promotion.
Speak No Evil director James Watkins on James McAvoy’s Filth
“It’s much more grounded [than Split and Glass], but this character’s deeply unpleasant,” Watkins explains. “Yet James manages to portray his humanity and the underlying motivations that led him to that point.”
Scoot McNairy praises James McAvoy’s performance in Speak No Evil
Despite the differences between the roles, McNairy describes McAvoy as a phenomenal actor who brings depth to his character in Speak No Evil. He notes that McAvoy’s versatility shines through in his portrayal of a dangerous and unhinged character.
McNairy emphasizes that off-screen, McAvoy is nothing like the characters he portrays. He describes McAvoy as funny, charismatic, and far from the toxic personas he often embodies on screen. McNairy commends McAvoy for his exceptional ability to immerse himself in challenging roles.
Speak No Evil is set to premiere in theaters on September 13. Don’t miss out on this thrilling film! In the meantime, catch McAvoy in action in Filth, available for streaming on Peacock.