Ahead of the September release of the English remake of Speak No Evil, star James McAvoy has revealed an interesting fact. The controversial podcaster and fighter Andrew Tate inspired his performance as the film’s psycho villain, Paddy.
“The thing I thought I could exploit in the character was, he thinks he’s a bit of a f— West Country Andrew Tate,” he explained to Empire .
“He’s like, ‘I’m going to teach you what it’s like to be a man again.’ But there’s a sort of polite face on it that isn’t quite Andrew Tate, enough of a sheen of, ‘I’m not one of those guys,’” added McAvoy. “[Paddy’s] challenging you, ‘Do you have a big enough d*** to have a drink with me?’, Or, ‘I’m sorry, this is too much for you because you’re not real enough.’”
So, who is Andrew Tate? Tate first came to the public’s attention as a kickboxer and businessman. Tate is known for his extreme toxic masculinity. On his podcast, he preaches about how to be a man’s man, an Alpha, if you will. He’s frequently found himself in hot water, being banned from multiple social media platforms due to his subject matter. Recently, Andrew Tate has found himself in real trouble. A judge has put him on house arrest after Tate’s home was raided due to reports of human trafficking and his involvement with underage girls. Sounds like a real villain to me.
In Speak No Evil, what begins as a seemingly idyllic weekend getaway for an American family becomes a nightmare. Things turn dark when they accept an invitation from a charming British couple they meet on vacation. Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy star as the American couple, Louise and Ben, trapped in a growing sense of unease as the other couple’s true selves emerge and the guests realize they are in great danger.
Based on the critically acclaimed Danish horror film Gæsterne, Speak No Evil opens in theaters on September 13, 2024. The original is now streaming on Shudder, Apple TV, and Hoopla.
