WARWICK SHOWCASE

SPEAK NO EVIL
* * *
(Tense Horror Movie)

James McAvoy plays one of the most frightening characters we’ve seen on screen in quite a while.

He plays Paddy, who along with his wife Ciara befriends Louise, Ben and their daughter while on vacation in Tuscany, inviting them to visit their country estate in England.

Ben and Louise are having some marital problems. He is out of work and, while she is supportive, she is losing patience with him. Ben is kind of a milquetoast.

Strange little things start to happen. Tension builds as the eccentric Paddy flies off the handle at what seem like minor incidents.

He treats his son poorly, pushing him beyond his limits.

The boy can’t speak. He has no tongue, which is weird, especially when he tries to tell the young girl by using his fingers like a pair of scissors.

Louise senses danger and convinces Ben to leave in the middle of the night but they are thwarted in their attempt.

That’s when things get really weird, scary and dangerous, all leading to the discovery of Paddy’s secret as to what is really going on.

The situation turns violent as the family tries to escape, forcing a tension-packed ending where Ben is forced to confront his weaknesses.

You’ll be on the edge of your seat for the final showdown.

AM I RACIST?
* * ½
(Mockumentary?)

Matt Walsh asks the question of himself and a variety of other people in his quest to determine if most white people are, indeed, racist.

His interviewing techniques are a bit unusual as he attempts to put people off guard, occasionally using psychobabble to confuse them.

The movie opens with Walsh infiltrating a focus group and using every technique possible to irritate the leader and members, eventually being escorted out of the room.

From there he hits the streets to ask a cross section of white people the question, throwing the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) theory in their faces and telling them his goal is to “Do the Work,” whatever that is.

He concludes the movie by running a seminar on racism, using bizarre examples, offending his audience, and watching most of them walk out.

He concludes by saying that only you can decide whether you are a racist.

The movie is certain to cause dialogue on the subject. He has already appeared on Cuomo to discuss it.

My problem is that I’m not sure of his motives and methods and from the beginning didn’t like him.

If you can sit through this one, you’ll have to draw your own conclusions.