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They Will Kill You, directed by Kirill Sokolov and written by Sokolov alongsideAlex Litvak, is a playful Gothic action horror that radiates high energy. It’s worth noting that this fun genre outing was produced by horror heavyweights Andy Muschietti andBarbara Muschietti, the same filmmaking team behind the massively successful It franchise. This movie delivers outrageous, tightly choreographed violence and a commanding lead performance, even when its derivative influences and thinner supporting elements occasionally hold it back from fully realizing its potential.
Zazie Beetz (Atlanta) stars as Asia Reeves, an ex-convict who appears to be starting fresh by taking a job at The Virgil, a luxurious, though suspicious, high-rise apartment complex in downtown New York City. Myha’la (Bodies Bodies Bodies) plays her little sister, Maria, and the emotional backbone of the film is rooted in the story of two sisters simply trying to survive. They come from a rough childhood shaped by an abusive father, and when an attempted escape goes wrong, the two are separated for a decade.
Asia’s arrival at The Virgil quickly reveals that the building harbors some dangerous satanic secrets. Asia is there to find and save her sister, but almost immediately the residents attempt to murder and sacrifice her to their satanic lord in exchange for their ongoing immortality. What these wealthy satanists fail to realize is that Asia, having spent the better part of a decade in prison, has developed exceptional fighting skills. She swiftly turns the tables, brutalizing the eccentric, murderous tenants of the high-rise with satisfying ease.
The ensemble here includes Tom Felton, best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, alongside Heather Graham (Scream 2) and Angus Sampson of the Insidious franchise. At the center of it all gory mayhem is Patricia Arquette as Lilith Woodhouse, the head manager of the building and the film’s complicated main antagonist.
One of the most impressive elements of They Will Kill You is its ability to consistently surprise its audience, delivering gleefully squeamish turns of violence, playful humor, and occasionally shocking set pieces. The film is at its absolute best during its must-see fight sequences. The influence of Quentin Tarantino is unmistakable. There are moments that feel directly reminiscent of Kill Bill, and these similarities largely read as intentional homage rather than creative hijacking. At their best, they result in visually engaging and genuinely striking moments made with confidence.
The film’s relationship with Tarantino’s influence is not without its complications. Tarantino himself is something of a collage artist, drawing from global cinema across decades and assembling those influences into something of his own. The snow-set showdown in Kill Bill: Vol. 1, for example, draws heavily from Lady Snowblood and broader Japanese chanbara cinema. They Will Kill You, then, borrows this moment from a filmmaker who has already borrowed it, and as a result, the homages can occasionally come out a bit muddy, like a copy of a copy. Still, the visual language, direction, and choreography forgive all this, further elevated by Beetz’s phenomenal and technically impressive lead performance.
Where the film does begin to lose a bit of of its footing is in its narrative and supporting elements. Asia’s arc leans on formula, and while the idea of a lone, unexpectedly dangerous anti-hero taking on an entire complex of satanists with minimal reliance on firearms is undeniably fun, it remains a little surface-level in terms of character objectives. She’s there to save her sister, whom she accidentally abandoned a decade prior. This is stuff we’ve seen many times before, including just last week with Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.
The supporting cast, both heroes and antagonists, also feel somewhat underdeveloped, occasionally bottlenecking the movie’s big energy created by the film’s action sequences. Even some of the visual elements, typically a strength of the film, occasionally work against it. The production design, in particular, has been clockably under-realized. While the concept of The Virgil building is imaginative on the page, it lacks the detail and polish needed to fully support the heightened Evil Art Deco style that the film aims for.
Rough edges aside, it’s impossible not to have fun with They Will Kill You. Its tone is outrageous, the fight sequences are spectacular, and Zazie Beetz delivers a performance that stands out as a clear highlight. While its weaker supporting elements, familiar narrative beats, and unfinished details keep it from reaching true greatness, the film’s surprising moments, satisfying style, and silly sense of fun make it easily worth the price of admission.
Summary
‘They Will Kill You’ overcomes its familiar storytelling and style with slick fight sequences and a killer lead performance from Zazie Beetz.
Categorized:News Reviews
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