Speak

There is a problem with parsing the infobox Speak is a 2020 meta psychological horror film directed by Frank Novice, starring Frank Whaley, Stephen Baldwin and Elizabeth Gillies.

Speak centers on a small community dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting committed by an autistic student, and how relentless bullying over his condition led to it. Students and adults who treated the boy poorly find themselves in a torture chamber and suffer gruesome punishments in line with Autism Speaks‘ means of treating autism.

The movie became controversial due to various name-based attacks on Autism Speaks. The advocacy group filed a lawsuit against the producers of the film over a poster utilizing their puzzle piece motif as well as the antagonist resembling standing Autism Speaks CEO Angela Geiger. The film also drew mild criticism due to the director claiming himself to be the first autistic director, even though other directors on the spectrum predated him. He would apologize for the remark.

Plot

Two men are dropped off at a hotel, intending to meet an associate for a ride to the capital in the morning. The manager is off-put by one of the two. The one suffers from low-functioning autism and is picking at a quarter with gum on it. The other rebuffs the manager when he calls the low-functioning one retarded. The man prepares for bed while the other looks for something to do, settling for watching some television. The TV is out, but the VCR is functional and he puts in a tape on a shelf. Initially looking to be a horror movie, the sleeping man is awoken by the noise and he realizes the room in the movie is identical to their own. He finds hidden cameras, and as he goes to confront the manager, he gets shot and the low-functioning man gets knocked out.

Lawsuit

When the film was released, Autism Speaks filed a class action lawsuit against Voltage Pictures, Saban Films and producers Elliot Strange, Hortense Anderson, Howard Stemple and Dub Goras over slanderous depictions of the organization. Novice had been exempt from the suit following an aneurism. Points of interest were the movie poster which contained a depiction of Autism Speaks' puzzle piece motif, indicating a direct call-out on the organization. In earlier cuts of the film, the antagonist shared the same surname as Autism Speaks CEO Angela Geiger, along with similar physical features.

The case was settled, with an alternative movie poster being used and the antagonist having her surname altered, with the identical appearance case getting dismissed, as it can be considered coincidental.

Reception

The film received mixed to average reviews. Prime points of criticism were put toward the jarring tonal shifts and dialog, but the execution was considered decent enough to stand out from other horror films released at the time. It had gained something of a cult following from people on the autism spectrum for calling out Autism Speaks and their negative approach to dealing with the condition. Most scenes were references to events related to Autism Speaks, namely the infamous I Am Autism PSA they put out and them using electroconvulsive therapy.