James McAvoy’s latest movie Speak No Evil tackles the toxic masculinity imposed by his character Paddy, on Scoot McNairy’s Ben. McAvoy speaks candidly about the way society appears to be changing and how that is reflecting on freedom. In today’s world, it seems to be OK to have stronger, more fundamental opinions. “When you’re lost, you’re looking for somebody who’s clearly found themselves and found their own way. So why wouldn’t you go with them and try and get the answers?” McAvoy states.
McAvoy discusses how social media and the rise of influencers like Andrew Tate fuels the misogynistic radicalization of boys and young men. He suggests that this is taking place within the conversation of masculinity and that uncompromising, unapologetic, strong-appearing people are easy to gravitate towards. This trend is significant for his role in the movie, which follows two families with children who grow close on holiday and then meet up for a weekend on their return. The reunion is undone by creeping unease that spirals from the edges of deceit into a nightmare of chilling intention.
McAvoy’s character, Paddy, who uses the cloak of social norms and politeness to tighten his toxic grip, is charming, confident yet darkly calculating. The remake of the original Danish horror film of the same name does address how familial cycles of abuse form – explicitly referencing Paddy’s trauma at the hands of his father. Furthermore, the version gives the children an expanded role as part of this exploration – resulting in a markedly different ending.
Finally, the movie explores the barriers of superficiality and touchstones of communication through Ant’s relationship with his disability, which is used against him. For McAvoy, this resonates personally with his previous work, portraying two characters who use a wheelchair, most famously as a young Professor Xavier in the X-Men franchise. For him, the heart of the films’ issues remains Speak No Evil, a movie remade for a social media age in which everybody is speaking, but nobody is truly listening
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