Dir: Kirill Sokolov
Cast: Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Patricia Arquette
This ultra-violent action-horror may revisit well-worn territory, but with Zazie Beetz tearing up the screen and a premise that channels the wild spirit of classic cult B-movies, it delivers a riotous, gleeful ride
Fresh off reviewing the horror-comedy sequel “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come”, I was caught off guard when a nearly twin film landed in cinemas just days later. Maybe it is pure chance, or maybe it is that old Hollywood trick of unleashing lookalike movies side by side, like when “Antz” and “A Bug’s Life” or “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” collided at the box office in 1998. This latest cinematic doppelganger, “They Will Kill You”, boldly marches in the bloody footsteps of Radio Silence’s darkly comedic horror saga.
Despite some wild differences—as this slightly newer film cranks up the chaos and goes full throttle—their similarities are impossible to ignore. Both stories centre on a fierce, outnumbered heroine fighting to survive a nightmarish gauntlet of would-be sacrificers, all in the name of a satanic ritual. Each film also skewers the ultra-wealthy, painting them as almost otherworldly, their fortunes tied to sinister deals with the Devil himself.
“They Will Kill You” wears its influences on its sleeve, the latest creation from Russian-born director Kirill Sokolov. While I was unfamiliar with his earlier work, his previous film, “Why Don’t You Just Die!” (2018) could have easily doubled as a working title here. Announced in 2024 and premiering at South by Southwest alongside “Ready or Not 2”, its timing feels anything but accidental. This film also marks the debut production from Nocturna, the new venture from “IT” director Andy Muschietti and his producer sister Barbara.
Much like “Ready or Not” and its sequel, “They Will Kill You” luxuriates in a New York playground for the super-rich. But instead of a sprawling country estate, the terror unspools inside The Virgil, a glittering high-rise pulsing with satanic secrets. Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz), haunted by the guilt of abandoning her younger sister Maria to their abusive father, infiltrates the building as a maid after a mysterious tip-off. She is welcomed by Lilith (Patricia Arquette), the enigmatic Irish manager, who offers a tantalizing glimpse into the hotel’s decadent 100-year history.
Asia’s first night is anything but restful. Masked intruders descend on her quarters, only to be met with her surprisingly lethal combat skills and a suitcase packed with sword and shotgun. When Asia corners Lilith, demanding to know where her now-grown sister’s (Myha’la) whereabouts, the stakes skyrocket as her slain attackers—including residents Kevin (Tom Felton) and Sharon (Heather Graham)—rise from the dead, dismembered limbs re-attached. Asia must carve a bloody path through waves of immortal hotel staff and guests, desperate to find her sister before it is too late.
The trailer had already raised my eyebrows at the uncanny resemblance between “They Will Kill You” and “Ready or Not”, but the full film left me genuinely stunned by just how closely they mirror each other. The familiar cocktail of eat-the-rich satire and satanic rituals is present, but both films also hinge on a fractured sisterly bond forged by years of abandonment. While Beetz and Myha’la share less screen time than their “Ready or Not 2” counterparts, watching both films back-to-back made this relationship feel more like a tired imitation than a fresh emotional core.
Even with its recycled premise, the film is a wild ride thanks to Sokolov’s fearless direction. He cranks up the violence, energy, and absurdity from the opening scene, yet manages to keep things playful rather than mean-spirited. Quick zooms, whip pans, cartoonish sound effects, and gleefully over-the-top, gonzo action sequences channel the spirit of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, particularly the former’s epic “Kill Bill” saga. There are even playful nods to the RZA’s “The Man with the Iron Fists” (2012) and the instantly forgettable “Hotel Artemis” (2018), especially in the endless, gleaming Art Deco corridors.
The relentless hack-and-slash chaos delivers a wickedly good time, provided you can overlook the borrowed plot points. Zazie Beetz is the film’s secret weapon, commanding every frame of the brisk 90-minute runtime. Though she has shone in ensemble casts like “Bullet Train” (2022), “Deadpool 2” (2018), and “Joker” (2019), leading roles have been rare for her. Here, she proves she has the charisma and grit to anchor an action film. With luck, this cult-worthy romp will help her land the major roles she deserves.
The supporting cast is packed with more underappreciated talent, all clearly relishing the chance to cut loose in unfamiliar territory. Felton and Graham gleefully ham it up, growing more exasperated with each of Asia’s increasingly inventive bloody takedowns. Then there is Patricia Arquette’s baffling Irish accent—a creative choice that never pays off and only adds to the film’s oddball charm. Somehow, in the context of this gleefully absurd movie, even her god-awful accent doesn’t feel out of place.
Despite its stylish bloodbath and visual panache, “They Will Kill You” starts to drag in the second half as repetition sets in. The premise and action are gripping at first, but after watching Beetz’s unstoppable heroine dispatch her undead foes a few times, the novelty wears thin. The film rallies with a wild finale featuring a talking demonic pig’s head and expanded mythology, though it all feels a bit hurried. There are flashes of brilliance, like the idea of each hotel floor representing a circle of hell from “Dante’s Inferno”, but these are quickly abandoned, leaving the story to fall back on its hack-and-slash roots. Fun as it is, it can start to feel like grinding through a dated video game.
The Verdict:
Though it draws inspiration from a host of cult classics in horror and action, “They Will Kill You” crackles with a wild, unpredictable energy all its own, and Zazie Beetz commands the screen as a truly fierce action heroine.
They Will Kill You is now showing in UK Cinemas
Dan Loves Film 
Great review as always.
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