Paul Christian Ocampo

REVIEW: ‘They Will Kill You’ delivers a wild blend of laughs and slasher thrills

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<div><em>Content warning: This article contains spoilers and descriptions of violence due to the slasher nature of the film. Reader discretion is advised.</em></div><div><br/></div><p>Directed by Kirill Sokolov, <em>They Will Kill You</em> follows Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz), a former convict searching for her younger sister Maria (Myha&#x27;la). The story begins with the sisters running away from their abusive father, a painful past that continues to haunt Asia years after she leaves prison. </p><p>Desperate and running out of options to find her sister, Asia takes a job as a live-in housekeeper at a high-rise hotel in New York City known as The Virgil. There, she meets the building’s mysterious manager Lilith (Patricia Arquette), who introduces her to a ‘family’ that feels off from the very beginning. </p><p>It does not take long before things spiral. </p><p>On her first night, Asia is attacked by pig-face masked intruders in a sequence that immediately sets the tone – fast, bloody, and chaotic. The film surges with energy as it leans into the slasher genre, complete with exaggerated violence, stylized camera work, and a pounding score. But just as quickly, it introduces a supernatural twist: the people Asia fights do not die.  </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWA52ywAhQs/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A11510125.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The reveal that the residents are part of an immortal and satanic group shifts the stakes. While the idea adds intrigue, it also softens the impact of the film’s gore, making some of the later confrontations feel less dangerous than they initially appear. </p><p>Still, Zazie anchors the film with a commanding performance. As Asia, she moves with urgency and grit, turning every fight into a desperate step closer to finding Maria. Her presence carries the film through its most chaotic moments, with action sequences that feel intense. </p><p>More than just the spectacle, what grounds the chaos is Asia’s unwavering drive to save Maria. Even when the film offers only brief glimpses of their shared past, the sense of responsibility Asia carries is clear. Zazie plays her not just as a fighter, but as an older sister willing to endure any pain, fear, even death, just to bring Maria home. That emotional play gives weight to every swing of the machete and every narrow escape.</p><p>Myha’la, meanwhile, complements this dynamic with her vulnerability as a teen girl forced to work in The Virgil to save her life. While their time together onscreen may be limited, the idea of imperfect sisters trying to save themselves even if it means sacrificing one another remains at the heart of the story. </p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWKuN0Dj-7a/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A11512521.799999952%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Around them, Tom Felton as Kevin and Heather Graham as Sharon, who leads the deadly family, lean into the film’s madness, helping deliver moments that are unexpectedly funny despite the violence. The blend of horror and humor becomes one of the film’s strongest elements, with absurd touches drawing laughter even in the middle of tense and bloody scenes.  </p><p>The wealthy residents, bound by their desire for immortality, stand in stark contrast to Asia’s fight rooted in love and sacrifice. While the film does not explore its “eat-the-rich” commentary deeply, it still lands in its own way by showing how far someone with nothing left to lose is willing to go to take down those who believe they are untouchable. </p><p>At the same time, some parts of the story feel underdeveloped. Paterson Joseph’s character Ray, the husband of the fierce manager Lilith, introduces a thread of conscience as he tries to save the sisters. However, his arc ends too abruptly to leave a lasting impression. The deeper motivations behind the cult’s pursuit of power are also only lightly touched on. </p><p>Even so, <em>They Will Kill You</em> knows exactly what kind of film it wants to be. It is loud, excessive, and unapologetically chaotic, mixing action, thrill, and comedy that plays out like a midnight movie experience. The stunt work stands out, with each action scene keeping the momentum going even when the narrative slows. </p><p>In the end, what lingers is not just the gore or the spectacle, but the idea of a woman fighting against overwhelming odds not for glory, but for family. In a world driven by power and control, Asia’s story becomes one of resistance, proving that even in the darkest places, sacrifice and love can still cut through. </p><p><em>They Will Kill You</em> is now showing in cinemas nationwide.  </p>

<p>'They Will Kill You' follows Zazie Beetz as a desperate woman trapped in an unusual hotel, blending slasher thrills with dark comedy. </p>

'They Will Kill You' follows Zazie Beetz as a desperate woman trapped in an unusual hotel, blending slasher thrills with dark comedy.