An apartment building’s savage residents hunt their prey for the day in ‘They Will Kill You’

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Whether you enjoy over-the-top violent comedies is a matter of personal taste, but if you’re choosing just one movie about a group of wealthy Satanists pursuing two sisters, director Kirill Sokolov’s energetic and wild film, “They Will Kill You,” featuring Zazie Beetz, is a good choice.

It’s just a coincidence that two movies, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” and “They Will Kill You,” are out at the same time. However, stories about secret, wealthy groups who target young women have been popular for a while now. In “They Will Kill You,” director Sokolov and writer Alex Litvak combine this idea with fast-paced action inspired by kung fu films and the non-linear style of Quentin Tarantino, creating a revenge story similar to the “John Wick” movies.

While some might find it familiar, director Anton Sokolov—known for his over-the-top Russian comedies like “Why Don’t You Just Die!” and “No Looking Back”—brings his unique, chaotic energy to his first film in English. It’s also visually stunning, thanks to incredibly energetic camerawork. Cinematographer Isaac Bauman’s camera isn’t just recording the story; it feels like a separate storyteller, offering its own perspective.

I just finished watching this really unsettling thriller, and let me tell you, it grabbed me from the start. It centers around Asia, played by Beetz, who answers a help-wanted ad at this super fancy apartment building in Manhattan called the Virgil. But things aren’t what they seem. Both she and the building’s strict manager, Lily (Arquette), are keeping secrets. It quickly becomes clear Asia isn’t there to work exactly… she’s part of something much darker, a twisted game where she’s the prey for the wealthy residents. And the biggest twist? She’s not actually there to be a maid at all – she’s desperately searching for her little sister, Maria. It’s a wild ride!

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The movie uses flashbacks to reveal Asia’s past, but the important thing is she learned to fight while in prison. Now, she’s determined to stop a group of wealthy, masked villains, and the conflict between them will continue all night until sunrise.

As a film fan, I found “They Will Kill You” really interesting because it clearly loves the movies it’s borrowing from, while also being totally over-the-top and violent in a way that gets weirder and weirder. But what surprised me most was how it never lost sight of the heart of the story: Asia’s fierce protectiveness of Maria. It all stems from Asia feeling terrible about not being there for her sister when she needed her, and actress Beetz absolutely nails that raw, desperate emotion – you really feel her wild determination to keep Maria safe.

Beetz is fantastic in the physical role, delivering a truly dynamic performance. She’s clearly well-trained in fight choreography, but it’s her chaotic, instinctive movements – whether wielding swords, shotguns, or even flaming axes – that make her action feel genuinely panicked and reactive. The entire cast, including Tom Felton and Heather Graham, participates in exciting and well-choreographed fight scenes, with the camera work adding to the energy and making you feel the impact of each blow.

I really appreciated that the script by Sokolov and Litvak touched on themes of racial and class unity – it was great to see those ideas included, even if they weren’t fully explored. It felt like they had a lot going on, though, and were more focused on the main plot, so those important threads were left hanging a bit.

What truly makes this movie stand out are its wild and unexpected moments. This quirky, slightly creepy style is clearly director Sokolov’s trademark. He’s heavily influenced by classic genre films and directors, but he puts a unique, ironic spin on them, reminiscent of the rebellious filmmakers of the 1990s. His boldness in embracing the bizarre, combined with strong visual storytelling, makes him a promising talent, turning ‘They Will Kill You’ into a surprisingly enjoyable film.

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2026-03-26 21:32