“Stylish Horror ‘They Will Kill You’ Lacks Substance – Review”

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 26, 2026 8:58 PM ET

Zazie Beetz trained for four months to play Asia Reaves. She carries much of the film on her shoulders.

Performance

Beetz portrays an ex-con who storms an elite New York hotel to free her sister. Her work is physical, focused, and often violent.

She is familiar from FX’s Atlanta and Deadpool 2. Her Asia channels grit reminiscent of John McClane and The Bride.

The central location is The Virgil. It is an opulent New York hotel that hides a satanic bargain for immortality.

The deal extracts human sacrifices from vulnerable women. Many victims are presented as minorities lured by promises of work.

Asia must navigate rooms and foes to reach her sister, Marie, played by Myha’La. The antagonists regenerate after dismemberment.

That immortality undercuts the tension and traps the film in repetitive combat sequences.

Patricia Arquette attempts an accent intended as Irish. It reads differently on screen.

Kirill Sokolov directs and co-wrote the script with Alex Litvak. The film leans on bold camera moves and close-ups.

There is an abandoned idea to structure the hotel like The Raid. The filmmakers try literal and abstract takes on deadly sins.

The production favors stylish horror visuals. Practical gore moments recall Sam Raimi’s work.

Some set pieces are inventive. Others feel like repeated showpieces without deeper stakes.

The film often confuses iconography for narrative weight. It prioritises mystique over emotional or thematic development.

With villains who cannot die, the story frequently circles the same violence. This choice ultimately leaves the project hollow and repetitious.

Reviewers will note a strong central performance and striking imagery. Yet the movie frequently lacks substance beneath its surface.

Runtime is 94 minutes and the film is rated 15. It opens in cinemas from 27 March.