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Christian Tafdrup's Speak No Evil is a grim Danish thriller that gained some global attention for its gruesome and cynical denouement. It's also an often hilarious satire of Northern European social mores in the manner of Ruben Östlund and Kristoffer Borgli. The film sees a Danish family accept an invitation to visit the home of the Dutch family they met while holidaying in Italy. Over the course of a long weekend the Danes become increasingly rattled by the behaviour of their Dutch hosts until things take a violent turn. Tafdrup uses this scenario to mine black comedy from the culture clash of Nordic reserve and Dutch extravagance. But while the movie functions very well as a social satire, it falls apart in its final act when it veers into full-on thriller mode. The joke of the Danes allowing themselves to be increasingly bullied by their Dutch hosts is ultimately stretched too far, reaching a point where their actions become laughable for unintended reasons.
