‘They Will Kill You’: Residents Turn Predators in Intense Apartment Drama
Kirill Sokolov’s first English-language feature arrives as a loud, stylized genre riff. The film blends kung fu, revenge motifs, and dark comedy. It centers on a wealthy building where residents become predators in an intense apartment-set drama.
Premise
The story follows Asia, played by Zazie Beetz. She answers an ad for a maid position at a luxury Manhattan building called the Virgil. Asia is actually there to find and rescue her younger sister, Maria.
The Virgil’s wealthy residents secretly hunt human offerings. They wear cloaks and pig masks while staging brutal games. Asia, who learned fighting skills in prison, fights back night after night.
Cast and Characters
Zazie Beetz leads with a fiercely physical performance. Myha’la portrays Maria, the missing sister at the plot’s heart. Patricia Arquette plays Lily, the stern house manager hiding her own secrets.
Tom Felton and Heather Graham appear in supporting roles. The ensemble commits fully to the film’s operatic violence. Their fight scenes become a choreographed, chaotic dance.
Filmmaking and Style
Sokolov co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Litvak. The director’s previous work includes Russian-language action comedies. This film channels Tarantino and John Wick while keeping its own off-kilter energy.
Cinematographer Isaac Bauman uses a restless camera. Shots move constantly, creating a visual narrator apart from the protagonist. The film pushes into surreal, cartoonish violence.
Action and Choreography
Beetz’s combat training is on full display. She swings samurai swords and wields improvised weapons in frenzied sequences. Fight scenes emphasize panic and reflex, not polished elegance.
Themes and Tone
The script mixes pulpy thrills with social undercurrents. It hints at class and racial solidarity but does not deeply explore every thread. The emotional core remains Asia’s fierce protectiveness and guilt over her sister.
Sokolov’s sensibility is gleefully gonzo. Referents to exploitation and revenge cinema are clear. Yet the film often prefers spectacle over thematic resolution.
Practical Details
- Director: Kirill Sokolov
- Writers: Kirill Sokolov and Alex Litvak
- Cinematography: Isaac Bauman
- Lead: Zazie Beetz as Asia
- Supporting: Patricia Arquette, Myha’la, Tom Felton, Heather Graham
- Rating: R for strong bloody violence, gore, language, and brief sexual content/nudity
- Running time: 1 hour, 34 minutes
- Release: Opens Friday, March 27, in wide release
Critic Katie Walsh reviewed the film for Filmogaz.com. She highlighted the movie’s visual energy and Beetz’s wild-eyed performance. The piece calls the film a noisy, entertaining genre mashup worth a look.
