Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Critics Divided on Horror-Comedy 'They Will Kill You'

3/30/2026

35 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Sokolov Blends Horror

Kirill Sokolov, the director, blends horror and dark comedy in They Will Kill You.
Zazie Beetz stars as Asia Reaves, a maid in a high-rise temple to Satan.
The story opens with Asia's traumatic past and moves ten years to her return against immortal assailants.
Critics say the film delivers strong performances and inventive action but lacks coherence and depth, prompting admiration and confusion.

Summary

Empowerment in Horror

They Will Kill You has sparked comparisons with Ready or Not 2 and Pretty Lethal for themes of female empowerment in horror.
Critics say They Will Kill You embraces horror elements but lacks depth next to John Wick.
Pretty Lethal features ballerinas fighting gangsters but suffers from weak character development.
Together, these films illustrate a trend of action-horror hybrids that attract niche audiences at SXSW and seek recognition.

History

Historical Context

The success of "A Quiet Place" in 2018, grossing over $340 million, marked a turning point in horror cinema, influencing filmmakers like Kirill Sokolov. This film's themes of female empowerment align with a broader trend in action-horror hybrids, echoing earlier successes like "Get Out" (2017) and "Hereditary" (2018), which reshaped genre narratives and audience expectations in contemporary cinema.

1 of 3

Sokolov Blends Horror

Kirill Sokolov, the director, blends horror and dark comedy in They Will Kill You.
Zazie Beetz stars as Asia Reaves, a maid in a high-rise temple to Satan.
The story opens with Asia's traumatic past and moves ten years to her return against immortal assailants.
Critics say the film delivers strong performances and inventive action but lacks coherence and depth, prompting admiration and confusion.

1 / 3