They Will Kill You: A Blood-Soaked Dumb Dark Action Comedy

In a year where nearly every weekend has been dominated by a major tentpole drawing crowds to theatres, there is something about this one that feels unusually quiet. As a result, the spotlight falls on They Will Kill You, a blood-soaked action-comedy produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, that is very reminiscent of another film currently in theatres, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. After it’s buzzy world premiere at this past South by South West Film Festival, the film is now being released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a fact that is quite surprising as it is on that feels much smaller scale and schlocky, compared to what the studio typically releases.

Zazie Beetz stars as Asia, a young woman who arrives at a historic luxurious Manhattan apartment building known as the Virgil, after responding to a listing for a housekeeping job. But from the moment she steps inside, it is clear that neither she nor the building’s cold, tightly wound manager, Lily (Arquette), are being entirely honest about their intentions. In fact, Asia hasn’t been hired to clean but rather, she has been selected as a human sacrifice meant to be hunted for sport by the Virgil’s ultra-wealthy residents. At the same time, Asia’s arrival was not by accident. She’s on a mission of her own: to track down and rescue her estranged younger sister, Maria (Myha’la), who may already be trapped inside the building’s deadly game.

Directed by newcomer Kirill Sokolov, while the film benefits from a level of budget and visual polish that most emerging filmmakers rarely get access to. Despite Sokolov’s flashes of skill, particularly in staging a few standout action set pieces, it ultimately falls victim to many rookie mistakes. The premise and set pieces feel heavily derivative without offering much in the way of a fresh perspective. The script, unfortunately, doesn’t do the film any favors. The members of the cult feel thinly drawn, never evolving into compelling or memorable antagonists. Instead of building a tense or dynamic opposition, the film settles for surface-level characterization. That same lack of depth carries into the dialogue, which frequently leans on obvious, overly corny lines that undercut both the humor and the stakes. The film also leans heavily on flashbacks, but they’re implemented in a way that feels clunky and disruptive, repeatedly interrupting the flow.

Beetz is a compelling actress, more than capable in action sequences and consistently strong in supporting roles, she doesn’t quite command the kind of movie-star presence needed to carry a film like this on her own. To be fair, the script gives her little to work with, but she’s at her most engaging during the action set pieces rather than in the more emotional, story-driven moments centered on rescuing her sister. As a result, the stakes never fully land, and the strained sibling dynamic between her and Myha’la isn’t convincingly realized.

The film does benefit from some inspired production design. The Virgil feels fully lived-in, with each floor boasting a distinct aesthetic that reflects its theme, adding a sense of personality the script often lacks. It makes Asia’s progression through the building consistently engaging, giving each level a new visual identity to explore. As mentioned, the action sequences are well-choreographed, even if they lean heavily on familiar influences. There are also a handful of clever visual gags, as the film fully commits to its blood-soaked, over-the-top brutality.

However, unless one has a real appetite for schlocky, B-movie horror, They Will Kill You offers very little of substance or entertainment. Despite some strong craft elements, it ultimately feels extremely derivative, frequently unfunny, and largely forgettable. It feels like a direct to streaming title that somehow got the big screen treatment.

still courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

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Tristan French