They Will Kill You

Review

Date Watched: June 26, 2026
Where Watched: HBO Max
Adaptation? No

Quick Hook (First Impression)

When I first heard about They Will Kill You, I expected a simple Kill Bill-style ripoff starring Zazie Beetz. That alone wouldn’t have been a bad thing, but I wasn’t prepared for how much more the film would actually offer.

What started as a familiar-looking action premise quickly evolved into something far more interesting, blending supernatural horror, stylized violence, and dark comedy in a way that kept me fully locked in from start to finish.

Story / Concept

The story follows an ex-convict (Zazie Beetz) who takes a job as a housekeeper in a luxury high-rise apartment building, only to discover a sinister secret tied to her long-lost sister.

While the setup is simple, the film constantly escalates its ideas. After the first major fight, it’s revealed that the building’s residents are immortal members of a satanic cult. From there, the story continues layering in new revelations about their immortality and how it can be taken away, which keeps the narrative engaging.

Performances

Zazie Beetz carries the film with ease, balancing emotional weight with convincing action choreography. Her experience in films like Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train translates perfectly into this role.

The villain is also a standout, with the reveal of a pig’s head possessed by Satan being both unsettling and memorable. The mix of practical effects and CGI helps sell the surreal nature of the character.

Pacing / Flow

The pacing is one of the film's biggest strengths. The action scenes never overstay their welcome, but they also never feel rushed. Every fight serves a purpose while allowing the story to continue moving forward at a steady pace.

The balance between action, horror, comedy, and exposition is handled surprisingly well, preventing any one element from overshadowing the others.

Themes / Meaning

Beneath all of the bloodshed and supernatural chaos, They Will Kill You explores themes of redemption, family, and confronting the past. The strained relationship between the two sisters gives the story emotional weight while the satanic cult mythology adds an entertaining supernatural layer.

Final Thoughts

Overall, They Will Kill You exceeded every expectation I had going into it. The film successfully blends stylish action, supernatural horror, and dark comedy into one incredibly entertaining package. Zazie Beetz delivers an excellent lead performance, the mythology surrounding the cult remains engaging throughout, and the creative fight scenes constantly find new ways to surprise the audience.

One standout moment involves Zazie's character blowing apart a villain's head with a shotgun, only for the villain to continue tracking her movements through their detached eyeball. It's equal parts disgusting, hilarious, and incredibly creative. The practical effects and CGI also remain consistently impressive throughout the film, while the camera work adds even more style to the action sequences.

My only real complaints are that a few lines of dialogue come across as somewhat cringeworthy, and the reveal surrounding what happened to the sisters' father feels underdeveloped, amounting to little more than a brief conversation. Thankfully, these issues are minor in comparison to everything the movie does well.

Who is this for? Fans of horror comedies, supernatural action films, and movies like Kill Bill, John Wick, and Bullet Train.
Who should skip it? Viewers who dislike graphic violence, excessive gore, or over-the-top supernatural action.

One-Sentence Verdict: A wildly entertaining supernatural action-horror film that combines brutal fight scenes, creative mythology, and Zazie Beetz's terrific performance into one of the year's biggest surprises.

What Worked

• Zazie Beetz's excellent lead performance
• Creative supernatural mythology
• Fantastic action choreography
• Stylish cinematography and camera work
• Excellent pacing
• Great blend of horror, comedy, and action
• Strong practical effects and CGI

What Didn't

• A few pieces of dialogue felt cringeworthy
• The reveal about the sisters' father felt underdeveloped

Optional Gut Check

Rewatchable? Yes

Would I recommend this casually to a friend? Yes