It’s not uncommon for horror releases to slip through the cracks, especially when the year is already packed with highly anticipated blockbusters. But horror films with a heavy coating of comedy and action, packaged into a chaotic survival experience, are especially prone to being overlooked because it’s such a niche blend. “They Will Kill You” is a good example, designed for a specific audience, but struggling to gain traction, particularly when released just a week after a similar-feeling title like “Ready or Not 2.”
“They Will Kill You” deserves a second chance now that it’s available to stream at home. Not only does it feature a badass heroine fighting a cult and taking them down using a variety of tactics and weapons, but it’s high-energy entertainment that lets you switch your brain off. Directed by Kirill Sokolov, this survival horror is clearly inspired by Quentin Tarantino and Sam Raimi, with moments that feel eerily similar to “Kill Bill.”
If you’re looking for something gleefully excessive and unapologetically violent to watch this week, here’s why “They Will Kill You” is worth adding to your watchlist now that it’s available to rent or buy.
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What is ‘They Will Kill You’ about?
“They Will Kill You” follows ex-convict, Asia Reeves (Zazie Beetz), who accepts a housekeeping position at The Virgil, a mysterious and exclusive high-rise apartment building in New York City. However, she secretly uses the job as a cover to locate her estranged younger sister, Maria (Myha’la Herrold), who disappeared while working at the same address years prior.
Asia quickly discovers that the building’s wealthy residents belong to a Satanic cult participating in ritualistic human sacrifice. On her first night, the residents target her as their next offering to a demonic deity. Unbeknownst to the cult, Asia’s history in the prison system has made her a formidable brawler. Armed with a variety of weapons, she must fight her way through the building’s floors to rescue her sister and escape the hunters.
‘They Will Kill You’ deserves a second chance
There’s not really anything that could’ve prepared me for the sheer madness that is “They Will Kill You.” Not only is this a seriously brutal movie, but it has a few twists and turns I didn’t expect, along with some fight sequences that had me cowering behind my hands. Kirill Sokolov, best known for “Why Don’t You Just Die,” is recognized for his stylized, ultra-violent dark comedies with a strong genre edge. It’s basically gleefully violent, chaotic, and darkly funny survival cinema.
“They Will Kill You” opens with a flashback 10 years in the past. Two young sisters, Asia and Maria, are shown huddled together in a convenience store, desperately trying to flee from their abusive father. Chaos ensues, and the scene then transitions to the present day as Asia arrives at The Virgil on a stormy night. She is there under the guise of an applicant for a housekeeping job, though she is secretly armed and searching for Maria. She is welcomed by the building’s superintendent, Lilith (Patricia Arquette), who provides an unsettling tour of the luxury high-rise.
I have to say that the first act includes one of the best action sequences of the entire film, with Beetz going full warrior mode, using electrical wires and a mattress to overcome her opponents. And all of this chaos is made funnier by the fact that several masked residents (including characters played by Tom Felton and Heather Graham) are shocked by her skills. It’s the combination of Beetz’s commitment and cinematographer Isaac Bauman’s impressive camera work that gives these fight scenes a real sense of carnage-candy energy.
Of course, there’s a reason I rated this three stars, and that’s because the story becomes predictable by the second act, and most of the supporting characters don’t add much meaning to the narrative. But this movie is still worth watching just for the impressive action sequences and the “fierce” physicality of Beetz, and her ability to carry the emotional weight of the story even when the script feels thin. Growing limbs, wandering eyeballs, and demonic piggies should be enough of a hook to add “They Will Kill You” to your watchlist.
Buy/rent “They Will Kill You” on Amazon now
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