'They Will Kill You' Review: A Batshit and Bonkers Addition to the Women Covered in Blood Sub-Genre
- 20 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Becca Johnson - March 30, 2026
Directed by Kirill Sokolov, They Will Kill You follows a woman named Asia (Zazie Beetz) who answers a help wanted ad to be a housekeeper in a mysterious high-rise in New York City. However, she doesn’t realise she is entering a community that has seen a number of disappearances over the years, and may be under the grip of a Satanic cult. Whilst having obvious similarities to movies both very recent and classic, the film stands on its own by providing batshit entertainment value. From the well shot and choreographed fight sequences to Beetz’ powerhouse lead performance, They Will Kill You is nothing short of an absolute riot.
Zazie Beetz has definitely made her mark on the film industry over recent years, starring in the likes of Deadpool 2 (2018), Joker (2019) and Bullet Train (2022), receiving praise for all turns. However, this is without question the best she has been - Beetz is an absolute force. Not only does she bring a kick-ass, final girl-esque personality to the movie that means you can easily root for her, but delivers an emotional complexity that gives her depth. A tough upbringing and a stint in prison not only mean she has the skills to survive, but through trying to get back to her estranged sister, she has the will to do so as well. Asia is a fantastic character who puts her strength into every aspect of her story, with Beetz embodying that perfectly.
The praise for the cast doesn’t stop there, as the whole ensemble bring likeable Hollywood names and prove they’re exactly where they need to be - on our screens in a wild, gonzo action horror. Heather Graham (Suitable Flesh) has always been a favourite within the horror genre, and continues that sentiment with a perfectly villainous turn as Sharon. She’s backed up by a motley crew including Tom Felton (Harry Potter), and headed by icon Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), who gives perhaps the most unique performance we’ve seen from her. Myha’la (Bodies Bodies Bodies) is also notable as Asia’s sister Maria. The acting is top notch, the group understanding the wild assignment perfectly.
Batshit and bizarre in the best way, the movie certainly does things that can only be described as plain weird. However, because this bonkers tone is introduced from the start, it somehow works, and even the most questionable choices have either hilarious or grotesque pay-off. From eyeballs moving on their own to an intense showdown featuring what can only be described as a pig on a stick, the entertainment value is ridiculously high if you're willing to lean into the madness it's going for.
The biggest surprise They Will Kill You boasts is how stylish it is. The fight sequences are expertly choreographed, with intriguing camerawork, blocking and a funk and soul soundtrack that makes for a slick horror comedy with a fresh, distinct style. There is so much violence and bloodshed, with buckets of the red stuff literally squirting and splattering all over the place to satiate horror fans. But don’t fret, this is balanced well with hilarious humour that is prominent from start to end. Whether its from the physicality the cast bring or the gutsy unique filmmaking choices, there are plenty of laughs to be had throughout. It also boasts a fun, fresh gimmick that was kept away from all marketing and trailers, which becomes the main source of most of the horror and humour. This ensures that They Will Kill You has many more surprises than it lets on, keeping you entertained, shocked and surprised.
Sometimes, films release that viewers can’t help but compare to other works; this is something that this will undoubtedly fall victim to. Not only does the story set-up closely resemble that of Ready or Not (with the sequel only releasing a week ago), but it has notes of Tarantino’s Kill Bill and Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead, as well as the pairs traits and flair in general. The music and editing also pay homage to Blaxploitation flicks, the way it quickly flits between funk and soul tracks and honours the high violence we’d expect from films under that umbrella. It goes without saying that They Will Kill You has enough going for it to help it stand out, but this doesn’t mean some viewers won’t find it derivative. Fans of Tarantino, Raimi and Ready or Not may welcome it with open arms, whereas others may find too many similarities to warrant giving it high praise in its own right. Wherever you stand, ones thing is for certain: the inspiration taken from prior works and auteurs creates a damn entertaining watch. As well as the slight familiarity issue, the villains might be backed by excellent performances and hold a menacing presence, but there isn’t much depth to them. It’s easy to come away feeling like you want to know more about them - their backstories, personal motives and how they came to be part of this satanic high rise.
With entertaining action sequences, bonkers horror segments, committed performances and just 94 minutes of pure madness, They Will Kill You is an excellent addition into the ‘women covered in blood’ sub-genre. It's unfortunate that this has a lot of similarities with other comparable films, even down to specific plot details and character bonds, because at times it does feel wholly unique. Those who choose to spend their weekend alongside Beetz, Graham and the rest of the killer cast are in for one hell of a fun time.
'They Will Kill You' is out now in cinemas.
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