They Will Kill You Review: Zazie Beetz Horror Action Movie Is a Bloodbath

Kirill Sokolov’s They Will Kill You arrives like a blood-soaked adrenaline shot to the heart of the “eat-the-rich” horror subgenre—loud, vicious, and fully aware of its own excess. Co-written with Alex Litvak, the film wears its influences on its sleeve, borrowing the survival-game framework of Ready or Not and fusing it with the stylized carnage of Kill Bill. The result is a film that may not reinvent the wheel, but absolutely sets it on fire.

At the center of the chaos is Zazie Beetz’s Asia Reaves, an ex-convict trying to rebuild her life. It’s hard not to see the similarities with Ready or Not, especially with that film’s sequel arriving in theaters just one week before. Both movies follow a woman trapped in a mansion hunted down by a cult of wealthy Satan worshippers. But the hook here is quite different. Where Ready or Not derived tension from watching an ordinary woman adapt, They Will Kill You thrives on watching a dangerous woman unleash.

We quickly learn that Asia is not to be trifled with and is more than capable of handling herself. Sokolov leans hard into hyper-stylization, and it pays off. The violence here is graphic in all the best ways. The film draws some inspiration from the hard-hitting style of Tarantino’s Kill Bill, especially in the way enemies line up to be dispatched in creatively excessive fashion. The way Asia manages to turn people into bloody garden sprinklers is effortlessly fun. Yet Sokolov brings his own flair, ensuring the action never becomes visually confusing. Every punch, stab, and explosion of gore is staged with clarity and momentum, making the film as easy to follow as it is exhilarating to watch.

Beetz carries the film with undeniable star power. This is a full-fledged movie star performance—commanding, physical, and charismatic. Asia isn’t just a killing machine; she’s layered with regret, particularly surrounding her past with her estranged sister Maria, played by Myha’la. Maria works as a maid at the Virgil, and their complicated history adds emotional stakes that ground the film, even as it spirals into absurdity. Their dynamic, centered on abandonment and unresolved anger, also mirrors the sister relationship we saw in Ready or Not 2. It’s a fascinating case of Hollywood doubling up on ideas, but here, the emotional thread gives the chaos just enough weight to matter.

The supporting cast is stacked with recognizable faces, though not all are given equal opportunity to shine. Patricia Arquette plays Lilith Woodhouse, the chillingly composed leader of the cult, while Paterson Joseph portrays her husband, Ray. Tom Felton and Heather Graham round out the cult’s ranks as Kevin and Sharon, respectively. On paper, this ensemble promises a gallery of eccentric villains, but in execution, that’s where the film stumbles.

For a movie so committed to excess, its antagonists feel surprisingly undercooked. They function more as a collective threat than as memorable individuals, lacking the distinct quirks or personalities that might elevate them into iconic territory. It’s a missed opportunity, especially given the genre’s history of unforgettable villains. That said, the film does introduce one clever twist: these cult members are far more difficult to kill than expected. This added resilience forces Asia into increasingly inventive and outrageous methods of dispatching them, keeping the action fresh even when the characters themselves blur together.

The film’s structure also evokes The Raid, with much of the action confined to a single building. This contained setting works to the film’s advantage, allowing Sokolov to escalate tension floor by floor, room by room. Each new space introduces fresh dangers and opportunities for creative set pieces, culminating in a third act that fully embraces insanity. Without spoiling specifics, it’s safe to say the finale pushes the film into near-surreal territory, committing so completely to its wild ideas that resistance becomes futile. You either go with it, or you’re left behind.

What ultimately sets They Will Kill You apart isn’t originality; it’s execution. Yes, the premise feels familiar. Yes, the themes of wealth, power, and ritualistic violence have been explored before. But the film understands its mission: to entertain, shock, and energize. And in that regard, it succeeds spectacularly. It’s the kind of movie that plays best with a crowd, where gasps, laughter, and applause become part of the experience. The audience reaction becomes an extension of the film’s chaotic spirit.

If Ready or Not was a gothic nightmare wrapped in dark humor, They Will Kill You is its louder, somehow bloodier cousin. The same way Ready or Not 2: Here I come took the film’s original premise and infused it with more action, They Will Kill You does the same, but triples down, making it an absurd action-packed extravaganza. This is a film that knows exactly what it is and leans into it without hesitation.

They Will Kill You is messy, excessive, and undeniably fun. It’s a crowd-pleasing bloodbath that proves sometimes, style and energy are more than enough.

SCORE: 8/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.

Source: Comingsoon.net