Film Review: ‘They Will Kill You’ is a Propulsive Gorefest with a Badass Zazie Beetz Taking it to Rich Satan Worshippers

Sometimes, a bit of the old ultraviolence is just what the movie doctor ordered. They Will Kill You has no qualms about giving you creative and unrelenting gore, which makes the horror comedy almost singular in its focus. Now, there’s an attempt to throw in some commentary about the wealthy elite and gentrification, but it’s in the shadow of watching Zazie Beetz kick ass. Considering how badass she is and what a strong ass-kicker she is, few will find themselves complaining about this film.

They Will Kill You certainly has shades of the Ready or Not franchise to it, though this is done with a bit more style and with a greater focus on brutal bloodshed, as opposed to the comedy. Now, there are some very funny moments in this movie, to be sure. It’s just not leading with the comedic element of the flick. That being said, there are a few ridiculously silly moments that can’t help but lead to laughter, which the film knows and utilizes well.

We meet Asia Reaves (Beetz) as a teenager, on the run with her younger sister Maria from their abusive father. A decade later, after one fateful night that separated the pair, Asia has come to New York to work at the Virgil, a high-rise in the city that offers a fresh start to those in need. Hired by superintendent Lilith Woodhouse (Patricia Arquette) as a housekeeper, things immediately seem off, and that’s before several of the wealthy residents break into her room in the middle of the night and attempt to kill her.

To the surprise of the residents, including Kevin (Tom Felton) and Sharon (Heather Graham), Asia more than holds her own, and in fact has come armed to the teeth. Seemingly dispatching of them, she’s confronted by Lilith, wanting to know just who she is. It turns out, she’s come to the Virgil to rescue Maria (Myha’la), who she’s found out is employed there. That’s not the only surprise, however, as Asia discovers that the residents are all members of a satanic cult, one that has allowed them to become immortal. So, in order to save her sister and escape the high-rise, she’ll have to kill them all, again and again. Then, the third act reveal turns everything on its ear.

Zazie Beetz leads the way with a mix of action hero and scream queen that’s incredibly easy to root for. She’s able to react believably confused by the insanity around her while also holding her own and kicking an incredible amount of ass. Patricia Arquette is relishing her villainous role, even if it’s often just instructing others on how they should be dealing with Asia. Tom Felton and Heather Graham are also enjoying themselves, albeit with less to do, while Myha’la factors into things in a way I won’t spoil. Supporting players here include Paterson Joseph, Angus Sampson, and more.

Filmmaker Kirill Sokolov comes stateside with a deliciously violent flick. Co-writing with Alex Litvak, Sokolov imbues it all with a chaotic feeling, both behind the camera and on the page. There’s a sense of directorial vision at play here, mostly in terms of how the fights are staged, as well as the creative gore. Litvak and Sokolov come up a bit short with their social commentary, to be fair, but when they also start to get into the lore of the satanic cult, things build to a craziness that papers over some of the sillier moments. The final sequence, which involves a wild escalation, is so ridiculous that you can’t help but be won over by the film. After all, the propulsive nature of it all is infectious, as is the appeal of watching evil rich folk, let alone satan worshippers, get what’s coming to them.

They Will Kill You is first and foremost for gorehounds, but those looking for a non-stop action outing will also find plenty to enjoy. For just over 90 minutes, this flick almost never lets up. The violence is so over the top, you’ll almost certainly laugh. This isn’t a subtle movie, but the excess is part of its charm. Taken on its own terms, this is a very good time.

SCORE: ★★★