THEY WILL KILL YOU Strikes a Familiar Blow

THEY WILL KILL YOU (4K UHD)

2026 / 94 min

Warner Bros. 

#InPartnershipwithWB 

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat😼

Asia Reeves (Zazie Beetz) has just been released from prison after a 10 year stint for shooting her father to project younger sister Maria (Myha’la). Now she’s found a job as a live-in maid at the Virgil, an elegant downtown apartment with a sinister past. She finds out how sinister on her first night, when she’s violently attacked by the hooded tenants, led by building superintendent Lily Woodhouse (Patricia Arquette). They’re a satanic cult who regularly sacrifice unsuspecting victims in an exchange for immortality.

But Asia has a few surprises of her own (and a pleasant surprise to the audience as well). A decade in prison has made her a consummate ass-kicker, and she immediately fights back with fists, kicks, knives and anything else in the vicinity that happens to be handy. It also turns out that Asia didn’t actually arrive looking for employment; she’s there to find her sister, who disappeared shortly after being hired. Most of the remaining narrative consists of one bloody clash after another, punctuated by the occasional flashback providing background to most of the main characters.

Though They Will Kill You is obstinately a horror film, there’s a big emphasis on comedy, action and ‘splatstick’ violence. For the most part, it’s a pretty entertaining ride, with director//co-writer Kirill Sokolov wearing his influences proudly. It quickly becomes obvious he was clearly inspired by the likes of Ready or Not, From Dusk ‘till Dawn, the Evil Dead franchise and maybe a little Kill Bill thrown in for good measure. There are a few surprises here and there, but for the most part, we’ve seen most of this before, both narratively and visually.

That duck didn't stand a chance.

On the other hand, originality has never been a prerequisite for entertaining horror, otherwise fans would spend their entire lives in a perpetual state of disappointment. They Will Kill You may be derivative, but it’s certainly enjoyable in the moment. Sometimes it’s genuinely funny, and aside from occasionally clumsy CGI, the special effects and violence are pulled off with panache. The chase through air vents involving a wayward eyeball is especially amusing. The film also benefits from good performances. Reeves is great in a physically demanding role, while Arquette appears to be having fun playing against type.

At the same time, I don’t know how well They Will Kill You would hold up to repeated viewings. I watched this one with my daughter (who loves horror), and we agreed that it’s one of those movies that fans probably won’t regret seeing. But since it will mostly just remind them of other movies, once is probably enough. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Director’s Log: The Making of They Will Kill You features interviews and behind-the-scenes footage; Developing the Virgil focuses on the elaborate production design of the setting; Asia Reeves’ Attacks is about the star’s action scenes; Crafting Carnage covers the bloody special effects.

DIGITAL COPY