The original director of 'Speak No Evil' criticizes James McAvoy's remake for completely changing the 'traumatizing' ending

The director of the original Speak no evil has criticized the remake starring James McAvoy for “completely changing” the controversial ending.

The remake, now in theaters, was directed by James Watkins and is a 2022 take on the Danish modern horror classic.

The story of the remake is about an American family whose idyllic trip is ruined by a British family on whose estate they are staying.

There are horror stories and attempted murders, as you might have guessed, and they culminate in a major confrontation.

The original follows fairly similar beats at first, but has an almost completely different tone and ending.

However, the director of the original, Christian Tafdrup, tried his hand at a remake – and is obviously not happy with the changes at the end.

Speaking to the Danish radio show Kulturen, he said: “The biggest difference is that he [Watkins] rewrote the entire ending.

“I don't know what it is about Americans, but they are raised for a heroic story where good must triumph over evil, and this version of the film cultivates that.”

Warning spoilers!

The ending of the original is traumatic, to say the least.

After discovering that the sinister family's young son has been killed, the protagonists flee before they are pursued by their hosts.

The parents are found, forced to strip naked and led into a ditch where they are stoned to death.

Her child Agnes has her tongue cut out and replaces the host's previous child, who had undergone the same treatment before her death.

In the American remake, the speechless child does not die, but warns the visitors about the dangers posed by the host family.

Then they all work together to fight and kill the hosts and escape in a thrilling ending.

Tafrdup said of the ending: “I thought they made an incredibly entertaining, effective and well-acted version of my original film. But maybe it's not as dangerous.”

“When I saw the film yesterday, it was clear to me that they would never be able to make a film in which the characters are stoned to death, like in our film. These people have to fight for their family and defeat the bad guys.

“It's a kind of happy ending and it's so deeply ingrained in their culture that America has to be able to deal with it.

“People were completely over-enthusiastic and were clapping, laughing and cheering. It was like a rock concert.”

“People are traumatized after my film.”