Speak No Evil (2024) ending explained: Do the Daltons survive at the end of the film?

An image from the thriller Speak No Evil (Image via Universal Pictures)
An image from the thriller Speak No Evil (Image via Universal Pictures)

Speak No Evil is a psychological thriller directed by James Watkins. He also wrote the film's screenplay, which is based on the eponymous 2022 Danish film by Christian Tafdrup. The movie is produced by Jason Blum and Paul Ritchie and was released theatrically on September 13, 2024. It stars James McAvoy, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis and Aisling Franciosi in lead roles.

The story of Speak No Evil centers on a British couple, Paddy and Ciara, inviting the American family - Ben Dalton, his wife Louise and daughter Agnes - to spend a weekend at their countryside estate. But, the Daltons' weekend trip ends up being a hellish nightmare after they discover that their hosts are serial killers.

Nevertheless, the Daltons survive their weekend getaway by killing both Paddy and Ciara at the end of Speak No Evil.


Speak No Evil: The fate of each character explored in detail

A still from the horror film Speak No Evil (Image via Universal Pictures)
A still from the horror film Speak No Evil (Image via Universal Pictures)

After arriving for their weekend trip, Ben and Louise immediately begin to feel uncomfortable by their hosts' passive-aggressive behavior. They soon learn that Ant, Paddy and Ciara's son, was born with a small tongue and cannot speak since birth.

Louise witnesses Paddy mistreating Ant on several occasions and calls him out on his behavior. It leads to an argument between the two couples over their different parenting styles. Not long after, Ant takes Agnes to a locked shed on the estate and reveals Paddy and Ciara's true identity.

He conveys to her that Paddy and Ciara are not his real parents. They are serial killers, who lure unsuspecting families into visiting their estate before stealing their money and killing them. Ant also reveals how he ended up with the couple. Paddy and Ciara abducted him after they killed off his real parents, cut off his tongue and forced him to act as their son in front of the Daltons, their latest victims.

He warns Agnes of ending up with a similar fate. After learning the disturbing truth, the Daltons make a hasty exit. But Paddy and Ciara realize that their cover is blown and give chase. They tie up Ben and Louise and have them transfer all their savings into their account. The evil duo then prepares to anesthetize Agnes to cut off her tongue.

When Louise begs Paddy to know why he's doing this, he simply replies, "Because you let us." Refusing to give up, the Daltons fight back and are chased around the house by a gun-wielding Paddy and Ciara. They escape to the roof and push Ciara off the roof, killing her instantly.

Paddy then captures Agnes at gunpoint, but she injects him with the same anesthetic shot of ketamine that was meant for her. As he lies down incapacitated, Ant picks up a brick and smashes his face while letting out a silent scream. Before succumbing to his death, Paddy gives out a sadistic smile and says:

"That's my boy."

With the killers finally dead, the Daltons drive away from the estate with Ant in tow. As they drive away, a traumatized Ant is seen sobbing silently in the backseat of their car while holding Agnes' stuffed bunny.


Does the Danish film have a different ending?

Dan Hough seen as Ant in Speak No Evil (Image via Universal Pictures)
Dan Hough seen as Ant in Speak No Evil (Image via Universal Pictures)

The original Danish film ends on a very bleak note compared to the American version of Speak No Evil.

In the climax of the 2022 film, Patrick (Paddy's counterpart) kills Abel (Ant's counterpart) by drowning him in the pool. After finding his dead body, a shocked Bjorn (Ben's counterpart) drives away with his wife Louise and daughter Agnes. However, his car breaks down midway, and he reluctantly gets inside Patrick's car (so as not to create a scene) after he arrives under the guise of giving him a lift.

Patrick and Karin (Ciara's counterpart) stone Bjorn and Louise to death soonafter. Karin then proceeds to cut off Agnes' tongue, much like she did with Abel in the past. The film ends with a chilling scene in which Agnes is forced to pose as the murderous couple's daughter when they go hunting for their next victims.


Plot summary and cast

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Speak No Evil tells the disturbing tale of a serial killer couple, Paddy and Ciara, who invite an American family, the Daltons, to their countryside estate with the intention of robbing and murdering them. However, their plans are thwarted. as the Daltons successfully fend off the murderous couple's attacks with help from Ant.

In Speak No Evil, James McAvoy portrays the serial killer Paddy, while Aisling Franciosi plays his wife, Ciara. Dan Hough plays the role of their young son, Ant. Scoot McNairy stars as Ben Dalton, Mackenzie Davis as Louise Dalton and Alix West Lefler as their daughter, Agnes Dalton, while Kris Hichen appears as Mike and Motaz Mulhees as Muhjid.


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Edited by Bhargav
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