They Will Kill You review: Over the top all the way, the right way
‘They Will Kill You’ offers surreal, non-stop action as a woman battles her way through a building’s privileged residents to a save her sister.
Revenge or rescue movies are great because the protagonist is highly motivated. Whether a hero or anti-hero, nothing will stop them from reaching their loved one or punishing the person who hurt them. The result is typically a lot of action and blood, which can be very entertaining for the genre’s fans. It also helps if there’s a unique element to differentiate it from similar films. They may use a unique fighting style, feature inventive deaths or have unexpected villains. In They Will Kill You, a woman searching for her sister encounters unusual tenants in a peculiar apartment complex.
Asia Reaves’ (Zazie Beetz) mistake 10 years earlier separated her from her sister, Maria (Myha’la). Now, she’s determined to find her. Her quest brings her to a centuries-old New York building called The Virgil and its manager, Lily Woodhouse (Patricia Arquette). Shrouded in mystery, there are concerning reports that people who enter never come out again. Nonetheless, Asia poses as a housekeeper to get more information and potentially reunite with Maria. Instead, she discovers the people living at The Virgil have a terrible secret. Consequently, they will do anything to ensure Asia doesn’t get out alive. This leads to several no-holds-barred fights for survival against the very persistent residents.
The film has a midnight movie or grindhouse vibe. The violence is over the top with surreal blood splatter that paints the ceilings red. After the initial introduction to the characters, the story becomes campier as well. The characters are a bit cartoonish, supporting some amusing sight gags with special effects reminiscent of Beetlejuice and The Addams Family.
The first major fight sequence has an unmistakable Kill Bill influence. Asia replaces The Bride’s proficient katana with a more brutal machete. But the battle is still similar to the one with the Crazy 88s, including dismemberments, blood fountains and a rhythmic soundtrack. Meanwhile, later high-impact brawls are more suggestive of other martial arts movies, like The Raid. Asia even finds a resourceful solution to fighting her enemies in the dark that involves a flaming axe.
Overall, the fight choreography is impressive. It’s fast-paced, skillful and inventive. Asia is quick to adapt to her surroundings and mindful enough to keep a tight grip on her weapon. It’s refreshing to watch a woman in a skirmish not be easily disarmed, so she’s defenseless against her next attacker.
The movie pieces together how Asia and Maria end up at The Virgil through flashbacks. Unfortunately, in spite of being integral to the story, they’re a bit disruptive to the narrative flow. The picture frequently jumps to the past during perilous moments in which they’re struggling to survive, creating inopportune interludes.
The Virgil is also home to the opposite of Dante’s circles of Hell. The building has floors dedicated to different vices so the residents can alleviate their boredom. It’s just another way the elite are wasting their privilege.
Satan worship is an increasingly popular explanation for awful rich people. Not only does it justify their wealth, but also their lack of compassion for others. However, another film about a brave soul standing up to a cult releasing a week after Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is not ideal. Notably, the Devil or demon is not an abstract idea in either picture as they physically manifest in both — albeit in very different forms.
In spite of not having the same promotional budget, this movie’s exaggerated, high-octane approach offers audiences a very different experience. Beetz is excellent. She exudes confidence in every scene. Moreover, her physical prowess is striking as she dextrously takes on multiple assailants in every clash. Audiences will want to keep their on this one.
Director: Kirill Sokolov
Starring: Zazie Beetz, Myha’la and Patricia Arquette
