Don’t say bad words is an intense thriller starring James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scott McNairyand Aisling Francesi. directed by James WatkinsThis American remake of the Dutch film of the same name will be a nerve-wracking experience that may leave you squirming in your seat.
While I enjoyed this movie, I couldn’t help but notice that it was filled with all the classic horror thriller tropes that make you question why the people in these movies always seem to make the worst decisions.
I spent a lot of time wondering how these characters could be so forgetful, jumping from one bad choice to the next. Every time they find themselves in a situation, you can’t help but think that if they had any common sense, the situation could have been easily avoided. This can be a bit frustrating as you’re practically screaming at the screen hoping the character can hear you.
That being said, despite the use of these tropes, the film still has the ability to captivate its audience. It’s an experience that leaves you both outraged by the characters’ choices and fascinated by what happens next.
It’s this balance of frustration and suspense that makes it an entertaining film. At the screening I attended, the audience was visibly squirming in their seats, and some were completely freaked out, especially when the story kicked into third gear. That’s when the brutality and violence begin to set in, making the tension overwrought.
The film’s premise feels simple but ominous: An American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they meet on vacation. What seems like a perfect vacation quickly turns into a chaotic psychological nightmare.
McAvoy plays the charismatic male owner of the manor, a maniac whose hospitality masks something dark and unspeakable. His performance is captivating, drawing you into his twisted world and making you wonder what lurks beneath the surface of every friendly gesture. McNairy and Davis are also great in their roles, but it’s McAvoy’s creepy presence that dominates the screen.
The film has been described as “an intense suspense thriller for the modern era”, which I think is an apt description. It taps into modern anxieties about trust, hospitality and the hidden intentions of others.
While you’ll undoubtedly find yourself questioning the characters’ intelligence throughout the film, it still manages to convey a sense of fear and helplessness that’s crucial to a good thriller.
When things get dark, they real Dark, though the payoff is brutal, satisfying in a heartbreaking, impossible-to-look-away way.
Don’t say bad words It is a suspenseful thriller, albeit somewhat metaphorical. If you like movies that push you to the edge, this is definitely worth watching, even if you’ll spend half the time mentally correcting the characters’ behavior.
